PRIME MINISTER

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Prime Minister whether there were any  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships in 10 Downing Street in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband) on 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 616W.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Correspondence: Data Protection

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what investigations his Department has initiated on  (a) the opening of confidential correspondence from a constituent of the hon. Member for West Chelmsford to the Pension Service in Burnley by the Royal Mail,  (b) the circumstances in which the confidential information enclosed in the correspondence was returned to the sender enclosed with confidential information relating to other individuals and  (c) the manner in which the information was returned to the sender; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 24 April 2008
	Royal Mail is working as part of contracted arrangements with the Department to open the post received by the Pension Service. The correspondence that was sent in error to a member of the public, was recovered by the Department immediately the incident was reported, and the small number of affected customers were contacted and an apology given to them. The necessary action has been taken to protect the personal data involved.

Fraud

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 42W, on fraud, how many staff of his Department were responsible for each instance of fraud or attempted fraud  (a) against the benefits system and  (b) in other areas in each year since 2003.

Anne McGuire: The figures given in the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 42W, on fraud related to the number of cases investigated. In each case the investigation identified a single member of staff. The following table shows the number of cases of attempted or actual fraud where the Department's investigation was completed in the year stated. This analysis is consistent with the way in which the Department reports to HM Treasury on internal fraud.
	
		
			   Employee fraud against the benefits system  Other fraud by employees  Staff in post 
			 2003-04 23 78 130,786 
			 2004-05 4 48 126,988 
			 2005-06 52 118 119,972 
			 2006-07 51 93 114,500

Fraud

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 42W, on fraud, what estimate he has made of the losses from  (a) the benefits system and  (b) other areas from fraud committed by staff of his Department in each year since 2003.

Anne McGuire: Information is not available in the exact format requested from 2003 as the estimated losses can only be broken down into the specified categories from April 2005. Overall estimated totals are given for 2003-04 and 2004-05. The following tables show the estimated losses arising from attempted or actual fraud where the Department's investigation was completed in the year stated. This analysis is consistent with the way in which the Department reports to HM Treasury on internal fraud.
	
		
			  April to March each year  All fraud value (£) 
			 2003-04 76,847 
			 2004-05 52,857 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			  April to March each year  Benefit  f raud  v alue  Other  f raud  v alue 
			 2005-06 83,135 109,895 
			 2006-07 435,452 72,782

Fraud

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 42W, on fraud, how many staff in his Department who defrauded or attempted to defraud  (a) the benefits system and  (b) other areas worked in (i) his Department's offices at Westminster, (ii) Jobcentre Plus offices, (iii) the Pension Service, (iv) the Disability and Carers Service, (v) benefits delivery centres, (vi) the Child Support Agency and (vii) other offices operated by his Department in each year since 2003.

Anne McGuire: Information is not available in the exact format requested. We are able to provide the numbers of staff in 2003-04 and 2004-05 as set out in the following table. The table shows the number of cases of attempted or actual fraud where the Department's investigation was completed in the year stated. This analysis is consistent with the way in which the Department reports to HM Treasury on internal fraud. From 2005-06 onwards HM Treasury reporting requires details at departmental level only. In aggregate for 2005-06 there are 170 staff committing fraud and for 2006-07 the corresponding figure is 144.
	
		
			   Number of staff  c ommitting fraud 
			  Business  2003- 04  2004- 05 
			 Jobcentre Plus 73 40 
			 Pension Service 7 6 
			 Disability and Carers 7 1 
			 Child Support Agency 4 2 
			 Other 10 3 
			 Totals 101 52

Pension Service: Swansea

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what volume of work was processed at the Swansea Pension Centre in each month in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007 and  (d) the first quarter of 2008.

Mike O'Brien: The information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  State Pension and Pension Credit Work processed at Swansea Pension Centre in 2005-06 
			   State pension applications  State pension changes  Pension credit applications  Pension credit changes 
			 April 2005 3.9 18.1 2.9 22.2 
			 May 2005 4.2 15.2 2.9 22.7 
			 June 2005 4.4 18.3 2.9 24.7 
			 July 2005 4.6 19.3 2.7 20.5 
			 August 2005 3.7 14.0 3.1 23.8 
			 September 2005 3.6 14.3 3.3 27.1 
			 October 2005 3.1 12.4 2.8 25.8 
			 November 2005 3.6 14.1 2.8 25.0 
			 December 2005 3.2 13.2 2.4 18.2 
			 January 2006 3.2 19.7 2.4 30.8 
			 February 2006 4.2 19.1 3.0 34.6 
			 March 2006 4.3 19.1 3.1 42.3 
		
	
	
		
			  State Pension and Pension Credit Work processed at Swansea Pension Centre in 2006-07 
			   State pension applications  State pension changes  Pension credit applications  Pension credit changes 
			 April 2006 3.7 14.9 2.4 20.8 
			 May 2006 5.1 20.0 2.7 22.4 
			 June 2006 5.9 17.2 3.3 26.1 
			 July 2006 4.0 15.4 2.9 23.0 
			 August 2006 6.3 16.7 3.4 21.9 
			 September 2006 5.3 15.5 2.5 21.2 
			 October 2006 4.4 19.8 2.5 24.4 
			 November 2006 4.4 17.9 2.7 23.7 
			 December 2006 3.7 16.8 2.4 16.8 
			 January 2007 7.8 19.2 2.7 28.6 
			 February 2007 6.2 21.0 2.4 35.3 
			 March 2007 5.4 19.4 2.3 36.9 
		
	
	
		
			  State Pension and Pension Credit Work processed at Swansea Pension Centre in 2007-08 
			   State Pension Applications  State Pension Changes  Pension Credit Applications  Pension Credit Changes 
			 April 2007 4.7 18.3 2.9 23.2 
			 May 2007 5.7 21.9 2.7 22.5 
			 June 2007 6.3 18.1 2.4 20.9 
			 July 2007 7.2 23.0 2.4 24.0 
			 August 2007 6.2 22.7 2.6 24.3 
			 September 2007 6.2 19.1 2.4 23.2 
			 October 2007 7.8 25.5 2.5 25.4 
			 November 2007 6.8 18.2 2.8 26.0 
			 December 2007 4.0 11.1 1.6 21.6 
			 January 2008 6.7 20.1 2.9 41.2 
			 February 2008 5.8 21.5 2.5 43.8 
			 March 2008 5.6 18.8 2.2 30.3 
			  Notes: 1. Figures shown are in thousands. 2. All figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 3. The Pension Service operate a virtual network of Centres and work is moved between operational units to support transformation.  Source: Management Information Systems Programme up to March 2008

Social Security Benefits: Personal Records

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what types of personal information required to support claims for  (a) pension credit,  (b) housing benefit and  (c) council tax benefit will not be required in the future; and what assessment he has made of the effects of a reduction in the volume of information required on the time taken to (i) process such claims and (ii) clear the backlog in claims processing.

Mike O'Brien: We have already reduced duplication in the provision of personal information for people claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit over the phone with pension credit. The Pension Service fill in a short claim form on the customer's behalf and the income and savings information supplied for the pension credit application is used for the housing benefit and council tax benefit claim.
	And from October 2008, we are proposing to further streamline this claims process, so that no claim form for housing benefit or council tax benefit will be required. The housing benefit and council tax benefit information will be collected by the Pension Service and automatically passed to the relevant local authority to assess entitlement.
	There are no proposals to change the types of personal information that are required to process claims for pension credit, housing benefit or council tax benefit. However, the types of personal information required to process claims to pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit are kept under review to ensure that where possible requirements are simplified relieving the burden on customers, whilst continuing to protect public funds.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  how many copies of the Draft Legislative Programme 2008-09 have been provided gratis; to whom; at what cost; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what provision is in place for the amendment of the Draft Legislative Programme 2008-09 following consultation; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  whether any Bills were  (a) changed and  (b) dropped from the legislative programme following consultation on the Draft Legislative Programme 2007-08; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Goodman: A total of 2,000 copies of the Draft Legislative Programme were provided gratis to all Members of both Houses and key stakeholders at a cost of approximately 24,000. A full 12-week consultation period on the draft programme is in progress until 6 August after which we will respond in the autumn and comments made will be taken into account in considering the content of the next Queen's Speech. The changes from the DLP and the final programme are a matter of public record and are set out on pages 7-8 of the Government's Draft Legislative ProgrammeTaking a Wider View (Cm 7248) which was published in November.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Members: Home Addresses

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether arrangements will be put in place to screen mail whose senders are unidentifiable and which is received at hon. Members' home addresses, consequent on the release of such addresses under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Nick Harvey: All incoming mail for hon. Members will continue to be comprehensively screened prior to arrival at the House. Any additional screening would incur some extra cost.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 315, how many tanks will be sent to Afghanistan; by when these tanks will be delivered into theatre; how they will be delivered into theatre; at what cost; and when the policy to deploy tanks in Afghanistan was approved.

Bob Ainsworth: The Secretary of State announced the deployment to Afghanistan of Warrior armoured fighting vehicles on 26 February 2007,  Official Report, column 619 and they were deployed on schedule last autumn. We have no plans to deploy Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks to that theatre.
	Each Warrior costs approximately 85,500 to ship to Afghanistan via commercial heavy air lift. I am withholding the number of Warrior deployed in Afghanistan, as this information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether measures are in place to ensure service personnel are offered  (a) priority and  (b) first refusal in buying (i) their accommodation and (ii) other service accommodation that is being sold off;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of Annington Homes' service accommodation units that have been sold have been bought by  (a) service personnel and  (b) service families since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The majority of service family accommodation properties in England and Wales are owned by Annington Homes Ltd. (AHL) and leased by the Department until there is no longer a defence use for them, when they are handed back to AHL for disposal on the open market. While there is no obligation on AHL to offer discounts to current or former service personnel when selling its properties, it has in the past offered certain incentives, concessions or priority to personnel voluntarily. We understand that between 25 and 30 per cent. of properties have been sold in this way.
	Surplus non-AHL residential properties in the United Kingdom are normally sold on the open market through competition in accordance with Treasury guidance in order to achieve the maximum receipt for the tax-payer. For these reasons, the Department is not able to offer priority, first refusal or discounts to service personnel. However, potential options are currently being explored to determine whether greater assistance might be given to service personnel. Currently, we are mindful of local needs and accordingly properties may be sold either individually or, in some cases, in bulk to local authorities or other registered social landlords as appropriate.

Armed Forces: Mental Health

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel were diagnosed with mental health problems in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The information for each year since 1997 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) has published two armed forces psychiatric morbidity reports which provide figures for the periods January to March 2007 and April to June 2007, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
	Kings college, London also publishes papers on military health research, which include mental health issues, and these can be obtained at the following link:
	http://www.kcl.ac.uk/kcmhr/information/publications/publications.html#stress_ptsd

Armed Forces: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the results and findings of the Trauma Risk Management pilot.

Derek Twigg: The study is currently being written up by the Kings Centre for Military Health Research for submission to peer-reviewed academic journals. Once this process is successfully completed copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

Central Africa: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether EUFOR Tchad/RCA has reached full operational capability;
	(2)  what progress has been made in the EU's military missions in Chad and Central African Republic; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The deployment of the EU military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic is progressing on schedule and there are now over 2,500 troops in theatre. Initial operating capability was achieved on 15 March and the operation commander intends the operation to reach full operational capability by the end of June 2008.
	The increasing presence of EUFOR troops on the ground has been broadly welcomed by international NGOs and UN agencies and the EUFOR mission is continuing to establish effective liaison with the UN on the parallel deployment of the UN policing mission (MINURCAT).
	A joint EU/UN Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) will take place in June 2008. This will feed into the UN Secretary-General's mid-mandate report on EUFOR in September, which will identify follow-on options. This review process will provide a formal assessment of progress that has been made under EUFOR Tchad/RCA so far.

Departmental Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies have spent on  (a) locating,  (b) recovering and  (c) identifying the information held on lost or stolen (i) electronic equipment, (ii) documents and (iii) other data storage means in each of the last 12 months.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Equality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2008,  Official Report, column 179W, on departmental equality, what percentage of  (a) senior civil service and  (b) top management positions in his Department were held by women; what percentage of senior civil service positions were held by black and minority ethnic employees; what percentage of positions were held by black and minority ethnic employees in his Department as a whole; what percentage of senior civil service positions were held by disabled employees; and what percentage of positions were held by disabled employees in his Department as a whole.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 2 June 2008
	As at April 2008:
	the percentage of women in the core of our senior civil service was 12.2 per cent. If we include positions, such as MOD medical staff, who hold the equivalent grade, this figure is 14.5 per cent.;
	the percentage of women in top management positions is 10.4 per cent.;
	the percentage of senior civil service core positions that are held by black and minority ethnic employees is less than 1 per cent.;
	3.1 per cent. of positions are held by black and minority ethnic employees in the Department as a whole;
	4.2 per cent. of our core senior civil service positions are held by disabled employees (this percentage is based upon known records only, i.e. where individuals have declared what their disability status is); and
	5.5 per cent. of positions within the Department as a whole (with known disability) are held by disabled employees.

London Airports

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick,  (c) Luton and  (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

Derek Twigg: Based on the Ministry of Defence's available records since May 2006, there were 109 official Defence bookings at a cost of 30,425.99.
	A monthly breakdown of official usage, with cost (inclusive of value added tax) is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Bookings from May 2006 to May 2008 
			   Number of bookings  Cost () 
			  Heathrow   
			  2006   
			 May 3 808.89 
			 June 9 2,426.67 
			 July 5 1,348.15 
			 August 0 0.00 
			 September 9 2,426.67 
			 October 1 269.63 
			 November 2 539.26 
			 December 4 1,078.52 
			  2007   
			 January 4 1,078.52 
			 February 3 808.89 
			 March 7 1,887.41 
			 April 8 2,157.04 
			 May 4 1,078.52 
			 June 3 808.89 
			 July 8 2,157.04 
			 August 4 1,078.52 
			 September 6 1,617.78 
			 October 7 1,887.41 
			 November 3 808.89 
			 December 4 1,078.52 
			  2008   
			 January 2 539.26 
			 February 3 808.89 
			 March 4 1,078.52 
			 April 4 1,692.00 
			 May 0 0.00 
			 Total 107 29,463.89 
			
			  Gatwick   
			  2006   
			 May-December 0 0.00 
			  2007   
			 January 0 0.00 
			 February 1 480.80 
			 March to October 0 0.00 
			 November 1 480.80 
			 December 0 0.00 
			  2008   
			 January-May 0 0.00 
			 Total 2 961.60 
			
			  Luton   
			  2006   
			 May to December 0 0.00 
			  2007   
			 January to December 0 0.00 
			  2008   
			 January to May 0 0.00 
			 Total 0 0.00 
			
			  Stansted   
			  2006   
			 May to December 0 0.00 
			  2007   
			 January to December 0 0.00 
			  2008   
			 January to May 0 0.00 
			 Total 0 0.00

Nuclear Weapons: Finance

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on the UK nuclear deterrent programme, including the Atomic Weapons Establishment, in each year from 1998 to 2008, expressed in cash terms.

Bob Ainsworth: The annual expenditure for capital and running costs of the UK nuclear deterrent programme, including the costs of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, in each year from 1998 to 2008 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			billion at 2008-09 prices 
			 1998-99 1.2 
			 1999-2000 1.2 
			 2000-01 1.2 
			 2001-02 1.1 
			 2002-03 1.1 
			 2003-04 1.1 
			 2004-05 1.2 
			 2005-06 1.3 
			 2006-07 1.6 
			 2007-08 1.7

Royal Navy Vessels

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) estimate he has made of the volume and  (b) assessment he has made of the types of outputs that arise from treatment by pyrolysis of wastes from Royal Navy vessels at sea; how these outputs are treated; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: A development programme for installing pyrolysis systems on to Royal Navy vessels,to process food and general waste, including paper, cardboard, tin cans, and plastic, is currently under way. During a successful period of shore-based testing, waste volume reductions in excess of 85 per cent. and mass reductions of 50 per cent. have been achieved.
	Starting later this year, the pyrolysis system will begin a 12-month sea trial onboard HMS Ocean and it is anticipated that the typical daily volume of general waste produced on the vessel could be reduced by up to half. If the sea trials are successful, there are plans to fit the system to the other vessels in the Fleet.
	There are two by-products of the pyrolysis process, a solid residue and waste gas. The solid residue cannot be discharged into the sea under MARPOL regulations so it will be sealed in steel pails and stored on board the vessel until it can be removed to landfill sites. The gas produced is well within the requirement of MARPOL regulations and the on-board processing unit will further refine it to bring it well within the parameters of more stringent land-based regulations, before release.

Royal Navy Vessels

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) assessment he has made of the types and  (b) estimate he has made of the volume of residues from the treatment of wastes which were discharged at sea by Royal Navy vessels in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: Records of discharges of wastes from Royal Navy vessels are retained on board. The RN does not routinely collate or estimate the total volumes of waste streams which are discharged at sea. Wastes are discharged in accordance with IMO Marine Pollution regulations.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Banks

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will introduce legislation to give bank depositors the right to  (a) appoint auditors,  (b) receive accounts and  (c) elect directors of a bank in which they hold deposits.

Gareth Thomas: I have no plans to do so. As outlined in the recent Draft Legislative Programme, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Darling) intends to bring forward legislation later this year to strengthen depositor protection, and deal with banks in difficulty.

Credit: Access

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of consumers of working age experiencing difficulties gaining access to consumer credit, excluding mortgages, from mainstream providers as a result of the state of the credit market.

Gareth Thomas: We do not have specific statistics relating to estimates of working age consumers experiencing consumer credit difficulties.
	However, the Bank of England reports total debt write-off for 2007 of 6,807 million, a small increase on 2006 (6,749 million). In the last quarter of 2007 (latest data available), a total of 1,616 million debt was written off compared to 1,986 million in quarter 4 2006.
	We remain very concerned to help those suffering from debt problems. In the last spending period, over 50 million was spent on face-to-face debt advice, for those experiencing difficulties with consumer credit, by BERR and MOJ. This will increase to 90 million in the period April 2005 to March 2011. Help is aimed at the financially excluded, of whatever age, and so far around 120,000 over-indebted clients have been helped, up until the end of March. BERR and MOJ will also support the National Debtline this year with grants of 1.75 million.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: My Department's food waste is 3 per cent. of turnover and has been budgeted at this level for the last five years. We monitor this by good ordering practices and portioning control when cooking and serving up.
	Our caterers, Baxter Storey, constantly look at ways of reducing our waste. On 14 April 2008, we introduced a new waste system at our headquarters building, 1 Victoria street, which has been trialled and which involves all food waste being collected in bins, to be picked up weekly, and taken for composting.

Health Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department provides health or social care services out of public funds, with reference to the statement by the Minister of State, Department of Health, in the Health and Social Care Bill Committee, of 17 January 2008,  Official Report, column 327.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform does not provide health or social care services out of public funds, with reference to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Health, in the Health and Social Care Bill Committee, of 17 January 2008,  Official Report, column 327.

WALES

Departmental Postal Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company.

Paul Murphy: Our records give no analysis by destination of our mail, but no more than a handful of letters will have been sent overseas.

Non-domestic Rates

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether rates collected from owners of commercial buildings in Wales left unoccupied for more than six months are hypothecated for use in Wales.

Paul Murphy: All business rates liable on commercial property in Wales are collected and paid in to the Assembly's non-domestic rates pool. They are then redistributed back to local authorities as part of the local government revenue settlement each year.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Advertising: Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will complete the work on producing codes of conduct governing the advertising and promotion of unhealthy foods to children online or via mobile telephones, as outlined in the Prime Minister's speech of 7 January 2008.

Andy Burnham: Both the Government and industry recognise that the advertising regulatory system must remain effective in the digital age.
	The advertising industry has therefore set up a Digital Media Group to develop proposals for extending the remit of the self-regulatory system, which currently has robust rules governing food advertising to children, to all types of mobile and online advertising.
	The Government have committed to reviewing the work of the Digital Media Group in spring 2009.

Advertising: Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  whether he plans to ask Ofcom to strengthen its restrictions on adverts on television for foods high in fat, sugar and salt which appear adjacent to programmes produced for children;
	(2)  whether he plans to further restrict adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and salt which occur when the highest number of children are watching television;
	(3)  whether he plans to impose further restrictions on the promotion of foods high in fat, sugar and salt across all broadcast and non-broadcast media.

Andy Burnham: As set out in the Public Health White Paper and the recent obesity strategy, the Government are committed to reviewing the food advertising regulations across all media. Furthermore, in July 2008 Ofcom will begin its own review of the impact of the current broadcasting restrictions on food promotion to children.
	The findings of these reviews into the effectiveness of the food advertising codes will be taken into account in formulating and enforcing revised codes, if so needed.

Advertising: Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the results of Ofcom's review of the advertising of unhealthy foods to children; and whether he is considering further restrictions in this area.

Andy Burnham: Both the Government and Ofcom are committed to reviewing the impact of the current restrictions on food promotion to children. Ofcom will begin its own review in July 2008 and will report its early findings as soon as possible. The findings of these reviews into the effectiveness of the food advertising codes will be taken into account in formulating and enforcing revised codes, if so needed.

Alcoholic Drinks: Licensing

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times the maximum fine was levied against a licensee for persistently selling alcohol to under-age people in each of the last two years.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	The offence of persistently selling alcohol to children under section 147a of the Licensing Act 2003 was commenced in 2006. As yet there are no data available for this offence.
	The following table covers the offence of selling etc. intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises.
	
		
			  Offenders( 1)  given fines and number given the maximum fine for selling intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises, magistrates courts, England and Wales, 2005-06. England and Wales 
			  Number of offenders 
			2005  2006 
			  Offence description  Statute  Total number fined  Number receiving maximum fine( 2)  Total number fined  Number receiving maximum fine( 2) 
			 Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises Licensing Act 1964 SS.169A  169B as added by Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 S.1 Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 S.3 [Sch.Para.4(1)] 660 1 438 7 
			 (1) Companies, public bodies etc. (2) The maximum fine is 1,000.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source:  RDS-NOMS, Ministry of Justice, 17 April 2008. Ref: AHA145-08

Departmental NDPBs

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list  (a) his Department's non-departmental public bodies and  (b) those non-departmental public bodies for which his Department has agreed new funding agreements for the next (i) year and (ii) three years.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is directly responsible for 54 non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), of which there are 42 executive NDPBs, 11 advisory NDBPs and one tribunal NDPB. These are as follows:
	 Executive NDPBs
	Arts Council England
	Big Lottery Fund
	British Library
	British Museum
	Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
	Culture East Midlands
	Culture North East
	Culture Northwest
	Culture South East
	Culture South West
	Culture West Midlands
	English Heritage
	Football Licensing Authority
	Gambling Commission
	Geffrye Museum
	Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust
	Horserace Betting Levy Board
	Imperial War Museum
	Living East
	Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
	Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
	National Gallery
	National Heritage Memorial Fund
	National Lottery Commission
	National Maritime Museum
	National Museum of Science and Industry
	National Museums Liverpool
	National Portrait Gallery
	Natural History Museum
	Olympic Delivery Authority
	Olympic Lottery Distributor
	Public Lending Right
	Royal Armouries
	Sir John Soane's Museum
	Sport England
	Tate
	UK Film Council
	UK Sport
	Victoria and Albert Museum
	VisitBritain
	Wallace Collection
	Yorkshire Culture
	 Advisory NDPBs
	Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites
	Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships
	Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection
	Advisory Council on Libraries
	Legal Deposit Advisory Panel
	Public Lending Right Advisory Committee
	Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art
	Spoliation Advisory Panel
	Theatres Trust
	Treasure Valuation Committee
	VisitEngland
	 Tribunal NDPB
	Horserace Betting Levy Appeal Tribunal for England and Wales
	We share responsibility for the Design Council with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).
	Most of these executive NDPBs will be required to have a funding agreement. Work is well in hand to finalise the drafts. The majority should achieve formal signature soon. The British Library, Gambling Commission, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and the Public Lending Right have already finalised their agreements. These four are all for three years.

Satellite Broadcasting: Freeview

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the introduction of Freesat on the level of the take-up among consumers of Freeview services.

Andy Burnham: Freesat is available to 98 per cent. of UK households and may enable those who experience difficulty in receiving Freeview service, to access subscription-free digital television. Some consumers may also install Freesat to access subscription-free high definition TV. However, it is too early to say what impact Freesat take-up will have on that of Freeview.

Television: Telephone Services

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with  (a) television broadcasters and  (b) Ofcom on recent cases of television broadcaster misconduct in the use of premium rate telephone services in viewer competitions and voting; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: I have had no recent discussions on this issue. However, there have been previous discussions with television broadcasters and Ofcom regarding the regulation of these services.

Television: Licensing

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which organisations receive funding from the licence fee; and how much they each receive.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The BBC is the only organisation that receives direct funding from the licence fee. Licence revenue for 2008-09 is estimated at 3.5 billion.

TV Licensing: Manpower

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed by TV Licensing; and at what cost.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 2 June 2008
	This is a matter for the BBC. I have, therefore, asked the BBC's Head of Revenue Management to write to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey direct. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Building Act 1984: Prosecutions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) companies and  (b) individuals have been (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted of an offence under the Building Act 1984, broken down by (A) offence and (B) local authority, in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Iain Wright: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she has issued guidance to staff in her Department to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government issues guidance to all staff to switch off their personal computers when not in use as part of the Department's wider carbon reduction strategy. The Department's Sustainable Operations Policy states that:
	Staff are expected to switch off monitors when leaving desk areas for more than five minutes and to ensure that all PCs, printers, photocopiers and other office equipment are switched off at the end of each day.
	This guidance is also contained within staff induction material.

Fire Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of fire and rescue authority staff on enhanced pensions who are to be made redundant as a result of the implementation of the FiReControl project; what estimate she has made of the cost of meeting the pension contribution top-up costs of these staff; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the net costs of redundancy, retraining and redeployment in respect of the FiReControl project as at 31 March; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The employment of staff after the transfer is a matter for the Local Authority Controlled Companies (LACCs) that have been established to run the RCCs. Under TUPE arrangements existing members of Fire and Rescue Authority (FRAs) control rooms will transfer to the new Regional Control Centres (RCCs). Some staff subsequently could be made redundanteither because there is no suitable alternative post for them, or because it is unreasonable for them to transfer to the new location.
	Under new burdens principles, funds will be available to meet the costs of redeployment, retraining and where necessary redundancy costs.
	Until the TUPE process takes place, it is not possible to identify which individuals might have to be made redundant, and hence whether they are entitled to enhanced pensions.

Green belt: Standards

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to paragraphs 6.62 to 6.64 of her Department's Annual Report for 2008, Cm 7394, what steps she plans to take following the failure to meet the Government's target on the area of disputed green belt land in each region over the period 2003 to 2007.

Iain Wright: Responsibility for creating and amending the area of green belt lies with regional planning bodies and local planning authorities. Proposals to make changes to green belt must be put forward in draft development plans, which are subject to public consultation and then to independent examination.
	National policy on green belts is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2, 'Green Belt'. This makes clear that permanence is the essential characteristic of green belt and that their boundaries should be altered only exceptionally. If such alterations are proposed, the Secretary of State in her role as consultee on the draft development plan will wish to be satisfied that the authority has considered opportunities for development within the urban areas contained by and beyond the green belt.

Houseboats: Planning Permission

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the permanent mooring of a houseboat requires planning permission; what permitted development rights exist; and what national planning guidance has been issued by her Department on houseboats or riverside development.

Iain Wright: Houseboats fall outside of planning control unless moored for so long in the same place that they can be regarded as bringing about a material change of use of land. The permanent mooring of a boat for residential purposes where there was not one previously is likely to be a material change of use of land and planning permission would, therefore, generally be required. Similarly, works associated with the mooring of the boat might require planning permission if they amount to operational development. Ultimately, it is for the local planning authority to decide whether planning permission is required.
	There are no specific permitted development rights for houseboats. No specific national planning policy guidance has been published in respect of houseboats or riverside development.

Housing: Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research her Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the correlation between housing conditions and the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued to residents; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Neither my Department, nor the Home Office who lead on antisocial behaviour orders, has commissioned or evaluated research on the correlation between housing conditions and the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued to residents.

Housing: Islington

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) wholly private,  (b) part rented/part purchased,  (c) local authority and  (d) housing association new dwellings were completed in the Borough of Islington in each of the last three years; and how many of each she expects to be completed in 2008-09.

Iain Wright: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  New build for Islington 
			   Private new build completions( 1)  Low cost home ownership new build( 2)  Local authority new build completions( 1)  RSL social rent new build( 2) 
			 2004-05 166 6 0 167 
			 2005-06 353 24 0 198 
			 2006-07 629 353 0 220 
			 (1) Source: P2 new build as reported by Islington borough council and the National House-building council. (2 ) Source:( )Housing Corporation  Note: Information on completions in 2007-08 is not yet available. Information on forecast completions for 2008-09 is not available on this basis.

Housing: Leeds

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was taken from Leeds City Council in negative housing subsidy in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

Iain Wright: No money has been taken from Leeds city council in negative housing revenue account subsidy in  (a),  (b), or  (c).
	Leeds is a net recipient of subsidy and received the following sums in each of the years shown as follows:
	
		
			   Subsidy received () 
			 2005-06 29,769,285 
			 2006-07 27,214,716 
			 2007-08(1) 31,323,761 
			 (1 )Not yet audited; may be subject to some change.

Housing: Registration

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will introduce measures to require all landlords letting residential property to register with their local authority.

Iain Wright: We commissioned an independent review of the private rented sector in January. This is being carried out by Julie Rugg and David Rhodes of the Centre for Housing Policy at York university and will report in October. The review is looking at all aspects of the sector, including measures to raise standards and encourage the delivery of professional housing management. It would therefore be inappropriate to express any views at this stage that may pre-empt the findings of this review.

Institute for Public Policy Research

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what projects or research have been commissioned from the Institute for Public Policy Research by her Department and its agencies in the last 12 months; and on what topics.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government has not commissioned any research projects from the Institute for Public Policy Research in the last 12 months.
	Details of research projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government are available from our research database (RD) at:
	http://www.rmd.communities.gov.uk/

Newts: Conservation

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning regulations and directives protect the great crested newt.

Iain Wright: The great crested newt is listed on Annexes II and IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (the habitats directive). It is protected under schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 1994 and schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Administrative guidance on the application of the law relating to planning and nature conservation is contained in the Government circular: 'Biodiversity and Geological Conservationstatutory obligations and their impact within the planning system'.

Planning Permission: Fees and Charges

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Iain Wright: As stated in our publication on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) published on 24 January, subject to Parliament's decisions on the primary legislation (the Planning Bill), Communities and Local Government aims to formally consult on the draft CIL regulations in autumn 2008, with a view to finalising them in spring 2009.
	The 24 January CIL publication The Community Infrastructure Levy is available in the Library of the House.

Planning Permission: Gardens

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the requirement for planning permission to pave over a front garden will be retrospective.

Iain Wright: There will be no retrospective element. Where work has been commenced before the law is changed it will be able to be completed. Similarly, existing paved gardens will not be affected by the amended regulations.

Planning Permission: Gardens

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the estimated average cost of a planning permission application for a typical household is likely to be under the requirement for a planning permission to pave over a front garden;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of planning applications that will be made each year as a consequence of her proposals to require planning permission to pave over a front garden.

Iain Wright: It is expected that most people who want to pave over their front gardens will continue to do so without having to submit a planning application. As long as the area to be paved over remains permeable an application for planning permission will not be required. Where an application is required, the householder will have to pay the normal fee for a planning application, currently 150.
	Based on an initial impact assessment, we estimate that between 120 and 1,200 householders a year will opt for impermeable surfacing for which they will require planning permission.

Planning: Public Participation

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the consultation document on Planning Policy Statement 6 will be published; what the timetable for the consultation exercise will be; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: We intend to publish a consultation document on revisions to Planning Policy Statement 6 this summer. The consultation will be conducted in accordance with the Department's usual procedures.

Rented Housing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to bring about convergence in public and private sector rents; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: We have no plans to bring about convergence between social sector rents and those of the private rented sector. Government policy is that social sector rents should be at sub-market rates.

Social Rented Housing

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether arm's-length management organisations will be able to access the fund to purchase unsold new houses and rent them to social tenants.

Iain Wright: The 200 million announced on 14 May will be used by the Housing Corporation to fund RSLs and others to purchase new properties from house builders.
	We are allowing the Housing Corporation flexibility to take advantage of opportunities offered by the current housing market to fund RSLs and others to buy unsold stock from developers at competitive rates with a view to provision of either social rent or low cost home ownership. This will enable RSLs and others to take advantage of the competitive rates offered by the current market as well as helping developers at a challenging time in the new build market.
	Some arm's-length management organisations are already able to bid to the Housing Corporation for funding in competition with other bidders as part of the regular market engagement process through which the affordable housing programme is being allocated. If ALMOs consider they can take advantage of the availability of grant to purchase new properties, the Housing Corporation would consider their applications.

Tenancy Agreements: Estate Agents

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward proposals to prevent estate agents from retaining the interest arising from tenant deposits over the period of a tenancy; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: We have no plans for further legislation on the holding of tenants' deposits. The Tenancy Deposit Protection measures introduced by the Housing Act 2004 are designed to safeguard the interests of both landlords and tenants and to promote good practice in deposit handling. There are two types of schemes available to landlords. There is a custodial scheme under which the landlord hands over the deposit for the duration of the tenancy. Where the deposit is returned to the tenant at the end of the tenancy interest is paid to the tenant. If the landlord chooses to use one of the two insurance-based schemes, under which the landlord retains the deposit and takes out insurance that will cover repayment to the tenant, the payment of any interest is for negotiation between the tenant and the landlord.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what restrictions exist on building Traveller camps on  (a) green belt,  (b) Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and  (c) Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Iain Wright: The same requirements apply to Gypsies and Travellers as to the settled community when seeking to build on the green belt. Planning permission is likely to be needed. Every planning application is decided on its merits in the light of local plan policies, but, under Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 on green belts, there is a general presumption against inappropriate development in the green belt. Inappropriate development should not be approved, except in very special circumstances, and it will be for the applicant to show why permission should be granted.
	In Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, planning policies and development control decisions should give great weight to the conservation of the natural beauty of the landscape and countryside. Planning Policy Statement 7, Sustainable development in rural areas, states that major developments should not take place in these designated areas, except in exceptional circumstances. Whether a Traveller camp is considered a major development would be a matter for the planning authority.
	Sites of Special Scientific Interest are protected by law, and Planning Policy Statement 9, Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, requires a high degree of protection to be given to SSSIs under the planning system. Where a proposed development is likely to have an adverse effect on an SSSI, planning permission should normally not be granted. If a particular activity on a site is listed on the SSSI notification as likely to damage features of special interest, the person wishing to carry out that activity must apply to Natural England for consent under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If Natural England has not given consent for such works it is an offence under that Act to carry them out. This protection is enforced.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children in Care

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many looked-after children there were on the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by local authority.

Kevin Brennan: Information on the number of looked-after children at 31 March 2003-07 broken down by local authority has been placed in the House of Commons Library (Table LAA1).
	Table LAA1 is taken from the Statistical First Release entitled Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007, which is located at http://www.dcsf. gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index.shtml and table LAA1 can be found within the first set of 10 additional tables supplementing SFR27/2007 on the website.

Children: Disabled

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps the Government have taken to improve the quality of services provided to disabled children.

Kevin Brennan: In May 2007 the Government announced Aiming High for Disabled Children which is now a joint delivery programme between DCSF and Department of Health. DCSF are investing 430 million over this CSR period to transform short break services, improve accessible childcare for families with disabled children and improve the transition of disabled young people from child to adulthood.
	Recent achievements include:
	21 short break pathfinder areas announced in January 2008
	10 childcare accessibility pilot sites announced on 15 May 2008;
	8.4 million additional funding to enable the Family Fund Trust to provide grants to 16 and 17-year-old severely disabled young people from low income families announced in the Children's Plan in December 2007
	Publication on 15 May 2008 of the National Core Offer setting out national expectations of how services are delivered for disabled children, young people and families, and supporting materials to help LAs and PCTs implement the Core Offer locally.

Children: Disabled

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps the Government have taken to assist parents by increasing access to childcare for disabled children.

Beverley Hughes: The Government's Aiming High for Disabled Children programme, announced in May 2007, included additional funding of 35 million for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 to develop projects to improve access to childcare for disabled children and young people and to reduce the attitudinal barriers which inhibit the take-up of such childcare. 10 local authorities have been selected as the first wave of pilots in the Disabled Children's Access to Childcare programme, and will begin work in autumn 2008. Emerging best practice identified from these pilots will be rolled out more widely.

Children's Centres: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding was allocated to Warrington Borough Council for children's centres in each year since their inception.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Sure Start local programme and Sure Start children's centres actual expenditure from 2003-04 to 2006-07 
			   
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Children's Centre (Revenue) 0 37,626 327,644 1,074,679 
			 Children's Centre (Capital) 0 0 450,170 1,612,330 
			 Sure Start Local Programmes (Revenue) 1,036,767 1,228,700 1,372,533 1,374,325 
			 Sure Start Local Programmes (Capital) 49,713 1,035,205 31,583 0 
			  Notes: 1. The figures are actual audited expenditure. 2. The table includes information on funding for Sure Start local programmes, the precursors to children's centres. SSLPs have now made the transition into children's centres. 
		
	
	
		
			  Sure Start local programme and Sure Start children's centres allocations from 2007-08 to 2010-11 
			   
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Children's Centre (Revenue) 1,339,816 1,929,604 2,498,955 2,973,907 
			 Early Years Main Capital 1,636,104 974,405 1,270,051 1,043,007 
			 Sure Start Local Programmes (Revenue) 1,218,250 1,216,984 1,186,313 1,090,998 
			  Notes: 1. The figures are allocations. Actual audited expenditure is not yet available for 2007-08. 2. The 2007-08 capital allocation comprised blocks for Sure Start children's centres, extended schools, early years provision, child care and integrated projects. The figures for 2008-09 onwards comprise blocks for Sure Start children's centres (start-up and maintenance), early years provision (quality and access), and child care and integrated projects. It is for local authorities to decide how they spend the overall capital allocation between blocks.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether any officials in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies were disciplined or dismissed for (i) breaches of data protection requirements and (ii) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: No officials in the Department were disciplined or dismissed for alleged breaches of data protection requirements or for the inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in 2005, 2006 or 2007.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) staff at senior civil service level in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made.

Kevin Brennan: The Department has used delegated powers to introduce more extensive non-consolidated performance pay to reward for the most effective and best performers. Performance bonus rewards are based on a judgement of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. The top 20-25 per cent. performers receive the highest bonus payment. During 2007, 50 per cent. of staff received a bonus worth between 2 per cent. and 4 per cent.
	The breakdown of bonuses for the senior civil service for the 2007-08 financial year is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of bonus awards made to senior civil servants in DCSF  Total cost of the bonuses awarded  () 
			 2007-08 91 577,972.38 
		
	
	The breakdown of bonuses for all other staff is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of bonus awards made  to  all other staff in DCSF  Total cost of the bonuses awarded  () 
			 2007-08 1,894 1,346,407.61 
		
	
	The Department has no executive agencies.

Drugs

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether any officials in his Department were disciplined or dismissed for illicit drug taking in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: No officials in the Department were disciplined or dismissed for illicit drug taking over the last five years.

Education: European Union

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on  (a) procuring and  (b) distributing to schools in England the (i) Passport to the European Union and (ii) The EU: what's in it for me booklets, produced by the European Commission.

Kevin Brennan: These booklets are produced and distributed on request by the European Commission Representation in the UK. This Department has not incurred any expense in their procurement or distribution.

London Airports

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick,  (c) Luton and  (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Children, Schools and Families has no record of hiring VIP facilities or of making any payments to  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick,  (c)Luton and  (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006.

Schools: Playing Fields

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of schools in  (a) England,  (b) the East Midlands and  (c) Leicestershire have disposed of playing fields since 1998.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 16 May 2008
	Since 1998 the proportion of schools that have had applications approved to sell school playing fields in  (a) England has been less than 1 per cent.  (b) the East Midlands, less than 1 per cent. and  (c) Leicestershire, less than 1 per cent.

Special Educational Needs: Young Offenders

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children in young offender institutions has  (a) special educational needs and  (b) a special educational needs statement; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The information is as follows.
	 (a) The Department does not collect information centrally on the numbers of children in young offender institutions (YOIs) who have special educational needs (SEN).
	However, an analysis by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) of 2006 ASSET datathe individual assessment tool for young offenders used by Youth Offending Teamsfound that 25 per cent. of young offenders had special needs identified. This figure covers young offenders both in custody and the community.
	 (b) The Department does not collect information centrally on the numbers of children in YOIs who have a SEN statement. Local authorities do not have a duty to maintain SEN statements for young people in custody. Instead support is provided within the custodial institution by special educational needs coordinators and learning support assistants. However, the YJB analysis of 2006 data showed that of the 25 per cent. of young offenders (in custody or in the community) who had SEN, just over 60 per cent. had a statement.

Vocational Guidance

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it his policy to support further development of the Skill Force charity's work in schools.

Kevin Brennan: We value the contribution made by Skill Force and other organisations in helping to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our schools. It is the responsibility of local authorities and schools to commission high quality and effective alternative provision that assists children and young people to maximise their potential.
	We have recently published a White Paper Back on Track which sets out our strategy to transform alternative provision into a vibrant and successful part of the whole education system. We expect better and more strategic commissioning of alternative provision to help generate the conditions in which an effective market can operate, helping new providers to enter it and the better providers to expand their offerings.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Asylum

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to encourage other countries to protect refugees from violence and inhuman treatment.

Meg Munn: The Government use every appropriate opportunity to advocate the ratification of the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (Refugee Convention) by all countries. The Refugee Convention guarantees the right of a person who is a refugee within the meaning of the Convention not to be returned to a country or territory where they are at risk of persecution. The Government support the work of the Office of the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR), the UN agency mandated to protect refugees. The UK is the seventh largest donor to the UNHCR (USD 52 million, 4.8 per cent. of contributions to the agency in 2006). The UK also contributes to operations on the ground to develop the capacity of countries hosting refugees to meet their obligations, for example, in Chad through the EU European Security and Defence Policy mission to protect internally displaced persons and refugees from Darfur.
	In addition to the Refugee Convention, the UK advocates the ratification by all countries of the main international human rights instruments, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, which provide the obligations to protect all individuals on their territory including refugees.

Burma: Asylum

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to protect the safety of Burmese refugees in states neighbouring Burma.

Meg Munn: The Office of the UN high commissioner for refugees is leading assistance to refugees from Burma, with support from international donors. The Thai Government are also engaged on the issue of Burmese refugees in Thailand.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development visited the Thailand-Burma border in January to see at first hand the plight of Burmese people who have been forced to flee from their country's repressive regime and the work being done by the international community to help them.
	The Department for International Development is providing 1.8 million over three years to groups which provide assistance to Burmese refugees in Thailand as well as to internally displaced persons inside Burma. We also provided 400,000 last year to support basic health, livelihoods and education to displaced communities within Burma.
	The UK is providing financial and political support for the work of the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) to address the needs of Burmese Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh, including the current provision of 1.5 million by ECHO to move around 10,000 unregistered refugees out of a makeshift camp and into newly-built dwellings. We continue to emphasise to the caretaker Government of Bangladesh the importance of a longer-term resolution of the Rohingya issue.

Electronic Government

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether mechanisms are in place to monitor the extent to which his Department's (a) internal and  (b) external (i) correspondence and (ii) distribution of publications is carried out electronically.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not have a central mechanism in place to monitor the extent to which the FCO's internal and external correspondence and distribution of publications is carried out electronically.
	To retrieve and collate the information needed from all of the departments within the FCO, and all overseas posts, would incur disproportionate cost.

Ethiopia: Somalia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on Ethiopia's involvement in human rights abuses in Somalia.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is aware of allegations of human rights abuses by Ethiopian troops in Somalia and has told Ethiopia, including at high level, that we expect them to adhere fully to international humanitarian law in Somalia. UN Security Council Resolution 1814, adopted unanimously on 15 May, calls on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law. The International Contact Group on Somalia issued a communique on 30 April which also raised concern for all human rights abuses in Somalia. We unreservedly condemn all proven incidents of human rights abuse and expect those responsible to face justice.

EU Budget

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's response was to the European Commission's proposal to extend to 15 June 2008 the deadline for member states to make proposals for reform of the EU Budget; and what discussions he has had with the Commission on its proposal.

Jim Murphy: The Government welcome the EU Budget Review and look forward to playing an active role in the debate. The extension to the deadline by three months for contributions to the EU Budget Review public consultation is a matter for the European Commission, but we welcome efforts by the Commission to ensure a comprehensive consultation process.

Iran: Human Rights

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the  (a) arrest and charging of six members of the leadership of the Iranian Baha'i community and  (b) the detention of other members of the group in Evin prison; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We are aware of reports that, in the early hours of 14 May, six members of the seven-person group that co-ordinates Baha'i activities in Iran had their homes raided and searched by Ministry of Intelligence officers. They were subsequently taken to Evin prison in Tehran where they remain detained. The seventh member of the group has been detained since March. We do not know the grounds for their arrests or if they have been charged yet. This is not the first time that the leadership of the Iranian Baha'i community has been targeted and formal Baha'i administrative bodies have been banned since the early 1980s. We remain deeply concerned by the Iranian Government's refusal to respect the right of their citizens to freely adopt and practise a religion of choice and the ongoing systematic persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran in particular and we regularly raise our concerns with the Iranian authorities, bilaterally and through the EU. Following a recommendation by the UK, on 21 May the EU issued a public declaration expressing serious concern about the treatment of the Baha'is in Iran and calling for the release of these individuals. We will continue to raise this issue with the Iranian authorities.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take at the United Nations with regard to the rocket attack on Ashkelon by the Jabril Front and the Popular Resistance Committees; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We condemn the continuing rocket attacks on Israel, including that on Ashkelon, by militants from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. These are unacceptable and serve only to increase the suffering of ordinary Palestinians and Israelis. We have no specific plans to raise the Ashkelon attack at the UN but will continue to work with the Quartet, the UN and others in the international community to prevent all such attacks in future.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take at the United Nations with regard to the rocket attack on Yesha by the al-Quds Brigades; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We condemn the continuing rocket attacks on Israel, including that on Yesha, by militants from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. These are unacceptable and serve only to increase the suffering of ordinary Palestinians and Israelis. We have no specific plans to raise the Yesha attack at the UN but will continue to work with the Quartet, the UN and others in the international community to prevent all such attacks in future.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions  (a) he,  (b) Ministers and  (c) officials in his Department have had with (i) Arab states and (ii) the Government of Israel on rocket attacks by (A) the Jabril Front and the Popular Resistance Committees and (B) the al-Quds Brigades; what response was received from each; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We continue to be deeply concerned about rocket attacks against Israel. We have not raised the attacks by the Jabril Front and Popular Resistance Committees and the al-Quds Brigades specifically with either Arab or Israeli Governments. We do, however, condemn the continuing rocket attacks on Israel. We raise these issues with international partners and urge all to use their influence to prevent attacks in future.

Slovakia: Arms Trade

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met with the Slovakian Foreign Minister to discuss arms sales to non-EU countries.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary meets his Foreign Minister counterparts regularly at EU General Affairs and External Relations Councils and discusses various subjects. No specific discussions have taken place about arms sales to non-EU countries.

Sudan: Human Rights

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to secure targeted sanctions against the Government of Sudan in relation to improving respect for human rights in Darfur.

Meg Munn: We continue to discuss the possibility of further sanctions with other members of the UN Security Council as one of a range of measures to resolve the crisis in Darfur. We would consider supporting sanctioning any party to the conflict for destabilising the region, impeding progress on the political process, obstructing the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur deployment or humanitarian access and human rights abuses.

Sudan: War Crimes

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he proposes to take  (a) at the UN Security Council and ( b) in other fora in response to Sudan's non-compliance with the current warrants issued by the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The UK sponsored the UN Security Council Resolution 1593 of March 2005 which referred the human rights situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The UK fully supports the ICC and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the need for Sudan to comply with the ICC in his meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor on 28 April.
	The UK continues to press the Government of Sudan, at all levels, to comply with the ICC requirements. We have also raised Sudanese compliance with the ICC with partners, including in the UN Security Council, who have influence over the Government of Sudan.

Sudan: War Crimes

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to encourage enforcement of the International Criminal Court arrest warrants relating to Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given to parliamentary written question 207151.

Sudan: War Crimes

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that consideration of Sudan's failure to co-operate with the International Criminal Court is included in the terms of reference of the forthcoming UN Security Council mission to Sudan.

Meg Munn: A UN Security Council mission is currently in Africa, and Sir John Sawers, UK Permanent Representative to the UN is taking part. Included in the terms of reference for the mission is the need to ensure that all Security Council resolutions are implemented and that the rule of law is upheld. We see this as the basis for raising the issue of Sudanese co-operation with the International Criminal Court.

Sudan: War Crimes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan on meeting the requirements of the International Criminal Court warrants issued against Ahmed Harun and Ali Kushayb for crimes in Darfur.

Meg Munn: The UK fully supports the International Criminal Court (ICC) and we continue to press the Government of Sudan, at all levels, to comply with the ICC requirements. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the need for Sudan to comply with the ICC in his meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor on 28 April.

Zimbabwe: Economic Situation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the economy of Zimbabwe.

Meg Munn: The Zimbabwean economy continues to collapse. Whereas prices had been doubling once a month, they now double once a week. Inflation for February was officially 165,000 per cent but according to leaked Government figures for March it has now risen to 355,000 per cent. Unofficial estimates are much higher. Scarcity of basic food supplies, petrol and simple household goods continue due to price controls, making the black market the only optionbut only for those who can afford it. Recent partial liberalisation of exchange control mechanisms is too little too late to make any real impact on the economyand could be reversed. The continued printing of money by the Reserve Bank is fuelling further hyperinflation. There is also the prospect of new, flawed indigenisation law being implemented aggressively and further damaging the private sector.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the costs of the Park for Women in Lashkar Gah have been; and what assessment he has made of its performance against its objectives.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The Bolan Park was built in Bolan, Lashkar Gah, with funding from the UK Government in 2007. The park was built at the request of the Governor of Helmand and relevant government of Afghanistan line departments, by the Afghan NGO Helping Afghan Farmers Organisation (HAFO). Much of the work was carried out using local labour. Funding for the project was provided through the UK-led provincial reconstruction team from a pool of funding jointly provided by the MOD, FCO and DFID.
	This park is open to men, women and children with one day each week being set aside for women's exclusive use. The park cost around 420,000 and was built alongside the Helmand river. The costs of the park reflect the fact that during construction gabion walls were put in place to support the river bank, which helps prevent erosion, and to support the Bolan bridge. In addition, the park has extensive lighting which at night is important for improving security.
	The park is popular and is in constant use, with children using it every day after school. It functions as a symbol for security and development in the area. One of the first major events hosted at the park was a US-funded agricultural fair to promote legal livelihoods attended by 1,700 Afghans. Recently the park was the venue for a successful cultural event organised by the Governor which attracted more than 2,000 local people.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Crimes of Violence

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received on trends in the level of violence in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: Efforts are being made across the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland to drive down crime and make Northern Ireland safer for everyone. As the PSNI crime statistics for 2007-08 show, violent crime is 7.6 per cent. lower than the previous year.
	Findings from the 2006-07 Northern Ireland Crime Survey and British Crime Survey suggest that violent crime victimisation (prevalence) rates have fallen in both jurisdictions.
	I meet with the Chief Constable of the PSNI and the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on a regular basis to discuss their assessment of crime levels and trends.

Prisoners: Foreigners

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many foreign national prisoners were transferred from Northern Ireland to serve their sentence in their home country in the last year for which information is available.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Prison Service has not transferred any foreign national prisoners from Northern Ireland to serve their sentence in their home country in the last year.

Shoplifting

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were convicted of shoplifting offences in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years, broken down by  (a) sex and  (b) age; and what average sentence was imposed on those who were given custodial sentences.

Paul Goggins: Table 1 outlines the number convicted of shoplifting broken down by sex while Table 2 shows the same information broken down by age group. The average custodial sentence lengths for shoplifting offences are documented in Table 3.
	Data cover the calendar years 1997 to 2006 (the latest available years) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number convicted of shoplifting offences by sex 1997 to 2006 
			   Male  Female  Total 
			 1997 543 247 790 
			 1998 571 240 811 
			 1999 469 164 633 
			 2000 512 231 743 
			 2001 453 178 631 
			 2002 409 162 571 
			 2003 417 183 600 
			 2004 392 170 562 
			 2005 354 203 557 
			 2006 349 146 495 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number convicted of shoplifting offences by age group 1997 to  2006 
			   Age group 
			   10-17  18-24  25-29  30-39  40-49  50-59  60 and over  Missing( 1)  Total 
			 1997 175 214 93 167 83 41 12 5 790 
			 1998 162 227 104 157 105 47 9 0 811 
			 1999 111 173 79 138 74 40 11 7 633 
			 2000 167 189 90 155 82 43 17 0 743 
			 2001 166 171 65 108 80 37 4 0 631 
			 2002 149 158 59 100 69 29 7 0 571 
			 2003 119 176 61 110 88 42 4 0 600 
			 2004 118 163 58 112 62 39 10 0 562 
			 2005 73 189 59 108 86 39 3 0 557 
			 2006 60 152 61 107 64 40 11 0 495 
			 (1) Missing data relate to those offenders for whom age information is not available. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Number sentenced to immediate custody and average sentence length (in months) for shoplifting offences 1997 to 2006 
			   Number sentenced to immediate custody  Number for which sentencing length data are available( 1)  Average sentence length (in months) 
			 1997 79 66 3.9 
			 1998 100 89 4.2 
			 1999 101 98 5.5 
			 2000 119 107 4.0 
			 2001 82 76 3.2 
			 2002 85 84 3.4 
			 2003 82 78 4.1 
			 2004 74 67 3.6 
			 2005 73 68 3.4 
			 2006 58 57 3.3 
			 (1) The difference in the number sentenced to immediate custody and number for which sentencing data are available relates to the number sentenced to training school orders (1997-99) and Juvenile Justice Centre orders (1999 to 2006). Data on sentence lengths for these types of disposal are not available. In 2000, there is one additional offender for whom the sentence length is not available.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Civil Servants: Pay

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the range of pay offers for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 is for equivalent grades across Government Departments; and what assessment he has made of the likely effects on flexible working across Government Departments.

Tom Watson: Departments have delegated authority to determine their own pay and grading arrangements below the senior civil service that are tailored to meet their own particular business, operational and workforce needs. Under the delegated pay arrangements, Departments are responsible for managing their own pay negotiations within financial parameters agreed by HM Treasury. Information on pay offers is not held by the Cabinet Office. Cabinet Office officials continue to work with Departments, HM Treasury and the civil service unions to improve the operation of the delegated arrangements, including action to narrow unjustified pay gaps between Departments for staff doing similar work.
	For the senior civil service, for whom pay arrangements are managed by the Cabinet Office, the Senior Salaries Review Body is currently considering pay recommendations for the next three years.

Departmental Catering

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Cabinet Office staff canteen at 22 Whitehall has been registered with Westminster City Council as a food business premises.

Tom Watson: The staff restaurant at 22 Whitehall is operated on behalf of the Cabinet Office by its facilities management provider Ecovert, who registered it as a food business premises.

Government Departments: Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Cabinet Secretary's review of data security will specify which Departments have notified the Information Commissioner of data breaches in the last 12 months in light of the Commissioner's recent statement on departmental breaches.

Tom Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 17 December 2007, providing an interim report on progress made to ensure that all Departments and agencies check their procedures for handling data and outlining any steps already taken. Within that report was the recommendation that Departments should cover information assurance within their annual reports. A further statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many copies of the Morning Star  (a) the Cabinet Office and  (b) 10 Downing Street purchase each day.

Tom Watson: None.

Planning Permission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what planning applications the Cabinet Office has made to Westminster City Council in relation to properties in Whitehall since 1997; and what the  (a) planning reference number and  (b) purpose of each application was.

Edward Miliband: Since June 2006 all planning applications have been available via the Westminster city council Website:
	www.westminster.gov.uk/environment/planning/applications/search.
	Prior to June 2006 the information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

TREASURY

Pre-School Education: Finance

Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of extending the early years education entitlement to  (a) two-year-olds in households below 60 per cent. of median income and  (b) all two-year-olds.

Yvette Cooper: The Children's Plan: building brighter futures published by the Department for Schools and Families in December 2007 announced an additional 100 million to extend the offer of up to 15 hours of free early education and childcare to 20,000 two-year-olds in the most disadvantaged communities.
	As with the response I gave her on 2 June,  Official Report, columns 719-20W relating to extension to the 3 and 4-year-old offer, to estimate the costs of a further extension of the two-year-old offer would require an analysis of childcare costs and other factors at the time of implementation, and of the impact on both supply and demand for provision in the childcare market. Costing a targeted extension would require an assessment any extra cost from targeting and any differences in the cost of making provision available to particular groups.

JUSTICE

Bail Accommodation and Support Service: Weston-Super-Mare

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what percentage of the people housed so far in the ClearSprings bail hostel recently established in Weston-Super-Mare are convicted offenders.

David Hanson: ClearSprings provide private rented accommodation only to those people who are otherwise suitable for release on bail or Home Detention Curfew but who do not have an address. The accommodation are not bail hostels. To date five people have benefited from the service provided by ClearSprings in Weston-super-Mare, which has three bed spaces. One was an offender.

Coroners

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the criteria are for determining coroners' courts  (a) location,  (b) relocation and  (c) closure of coroners' courts; what (i) primary and (ii) secondary legislation governs such considerations; what changes have been made to each since enactment; what recent representations he has received on the location of coroners' courts; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Section 5(2) of the Coroners Act 1988 provides that a coroner must hold inquests within his or her district. The Act is silent on relocation and closure of coroners' courts and there is no other primary or secondary legislation which deals specifically with the location, relocation, or closure of coroners' courts. The location of the inquest hearing within his or her district is a matter for the coroner and will be subject to the availability of suitable accommodation. I have not received any recent representations on the location of coroners' courts. However, from time to time my Department receives representations on problems with the availability of accommodation for inquests. On these occasions, my officials liaise with the coroner, the local authority and, when appropriate, the local court administration to help find a suitable solution.

Coroners

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many coroners' courts his Department plans to relocate in the next 12 months; what the reason is in each case; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many coroners' courts have been closed in each of the last five years; and what the reason for closure is in each case;
	(3)  how many coroners' courts have been relocated in each of the last five years; and what the reason for relocation was in each case.

Bridget Prentice: My Department has no direct responsibilities for the location or relocation of coroners' courts. Under Section 5(2) of the Coroners Act 1988 a coroner must hold inquests within his or her district. Approximately 30 per cent. of coroners have dedicated court facilities provided to them by their local authority. The remainder use other accommodation including court rooms in magistrates courts on a sharing basis, or accommodation provided by the local authority such as council chambers. Coroners will often use more than one building for holding their inquests, subject to availability and the specific requirements of the inquest. All arrangements for coroners' court accommodation are made locally and information about the closure and relocation of coroners' courts is not held centrally.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2008,  Official Report, column 63W, on departmental official hospitality, how many people attended each reception he hosted.

Jack Straw: Pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2008,  Official Report, column 63W on departmental official hospitality, in my capacity as Secretary of State for Justice, in the last 12 months I have hosted six receptions for a range of organisations and groups. The number of attendees at each reception is listed as follows:
	 4 July 2007
	Reception for Senior Leaders (SCS) from the Ministry of Justice at Selborne House. (100 attendees)
	 19 July 2007
	Reception for front line staff and Ministry of Justice stakeholders at Lancaster House. (170 attendees)
	 25 July 2007
	Reception for media stakeholders at Selborne House. (70 attendees)
	 1 October 2007
	Lord Chancellor's breakfast. This is an annual event hosted by the Lord Chancellor to mark the beginning of the Legal Year. Senior Judiciary from the UK and overseas are invited. (500 attendees)
	 6 November 2007
	Reception for Senior Judiciary following the State Opening of Parliament. (50 attendees)
	 15 January 2008
	Reception for media stakeholders at Selborne House. (70 attendees)

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consultants have been contracted by his Department to conduct public participation activities in the last three years; and how much expenditure his Department has incurred on each such contract to date.

Bridget Prentice: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Name of public participation activity  Name of consultancy  Cost of activity ()  What they were commissioned to do 
			  2005
			 Democratic Engagement: Digital Dialogues Hansard Society 34,200 The Digital Dialogues project investigates the use of online technologies (weblogs, webchats and forums) to promote dialogue between central Government and the public. Examples include online discussion forums on the openness of the family courts at the then DCA. Each stage of the project is followed by an evaluation report 
			 
			  2006
			 Draft Coroners Bill: Users' experience of the coroners' courts Ipsos-MORI 11,500 Survey to gather information on recent users' experience of, and satisfaction with, coroners' services 
			 
			 Draft Coroners Bill: Public Pre-Legislative Scrutiny by Bereaved People's Panel Opinion Leader Research 15,500 Workshop to enable members of the public with recent experience of the coroners' service to give feedback to the Government on the measures in the draft Coroners Bill 
			 
			 Draft Coroners Bill: Service families' experiences of the inquest process Opinion Leader Research 4,700 Event to gather information about the experiences of Iraq service families who had gone through the inquest process 
			 
			 Democratic Engagement: Youth EventSolent Theatre Solent People's Theatre 5,700 Facilitated event for Ministerial Youth Outreach Programme hosted by Bridget Prentice as Minister for Youth Engagement. This interactive event called 'Youth Shout: Your Voice Counts' was attended by 143 young people (most from primary schools), 19 MPs and 41 councillors 
			 
			 Democratic Engagement: Radiowaves Synergy TV 5,700 Radiowaves Voice It! pilot. Project to encourage and equip 11 to 18-year-olds to become citizen journalists and hold interviews with decision-makers which are published on the Radiowaves website and shared with a global audience 
			 
			 Democratic Engagement: Digital Dialogues Hansard Society 37,400 Phase 2Report on second phase published in September 2007 
			 
			  2007
			 Democratic Engagement Hansard Society 35,400 Digital Dialogues Phase 3ongoing 
			 
			 Democratic Engagement Involve 17,500 'Participation Partners': Bespoke coaching support from expert participation practitioners (Involve) to assist with all aspects of public engagement exercises; project evaluation and case studies to be disseminated across government 
			 
			 NOMS consultation: NOMS Strategic Plan for Reducing Reoffending Frameworks Ltd. 25,000 Organisation and running of national stakeholder consultation event 
			 
			 Consultation on: NOMS Believing we can CLINKS (third sector organisation) 10,000 Ran two faith stakeholder events in the North West 
			 
			 NOMS consultation: NOMS Third Sector Strategy CLINKS 20,000 Ran four third sector stakeholder events 
			 
			 Joint consultation events for Believing we can/NOMS Third Sector Strategy Futures Unlocked (third sector organisation) (1)9,000 Ran consultation events and developed third sector and faith alliances in the East Midlands 
			 
			 Joint consultation events for Believing we can/NOMS Third Sector Strategy Lincolnshire Action Trust (third sector organisation) (1)8,950 Ran consultation events and developed third sector and faith alliances in the East Midlands 
			 
			 Consultation on MOJ Third Sector Strategy Sand Resources Ltd. 35,000 35 days' consultancy work. Contracted to draft MOJ consultation paper, help analyse responses and help produce final strategy paper. Also contracted to help analyse responses to NOMS Third Sector Action Plan and help develop final NOMS Action Plan called 'Working with the Third Sector to reduce reoffending 2008-2011' 
			 
			 Draft Coroners Bill: Reporting restrictions in coroners; courts Opinion Leader Research 8,000 Workshop to reach consensus among key stakeholders (including media and voluntary group representatives and coroners) on the Bill's reporting restrictions proposals 
			 
			 OCJR consultation: Improving the criminal justice process for young witnesses Ipsos MORI 1,000 Workshops on proposals for young witnesses 
			 
			 OCJR consultation: Improving the criminal justice process for young witnesses National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children NSPCC (third sector organisation) 1,000 Workshops on proposals for young witnesses 
			 
			 Democratic Engagement: Radiowaves Synergy TV 148,750 Radiowaves Voice It! roll-out. The objective of Radiowaves is to help young people develop the knowledge they need to confidently get involved in democratic processes 
			 
			 Democratic Engagement: www.peopleandparticipation.net Involve 15,100 Website jointly funded with Communities and Local Government to provide practical help and advice for Government officials on public participation methods etc. 
			 
			 The Insight Project Ipsos MORI and Promise (2)200,000 Initiative to assess awareness of and attitudes towards Human Rights among both the general public and staff in public services in the Health and Social Care sectors 
			 
			 Human Rights Campaign Four Communications 31,050 Four Communications were engaged to assist the Campaign Team to strengthen awareness of the Human Rights Act 1998. This involved identifying opportunities for speeches, articles and interviews by MOJ Ministers on the Human Rights Act as well as designing promotional material such as a leaflet promoting the Human Rights Act 
			 
			  2008
			 NOMS consultation on Best Value in Probation NOMS (2008) Quatrosystem Ltd. 3,000 Facilitate two events for third sector, private sector and public sector providers of criminal justice services and provide feedback 
			 (1 )Grant funding. (2) First payments of this sum made in 2006.  Notes: 1. The following sums are not considered by the Department as relevant for inclusion: Sums paid to the Central Office of Information (COI), as it is a Crown body and Government Department. Sums paid to consultants who advised on the procurement of public participation activities rather than conducting the public participation activities themselves. 2. The figures given are generally rounded to the nearest 100 and inclusive of VAT.

Departmental Vetting

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether  (a) UK citizens born in the UK,  (b) UK citizens born abroad and  (c) foreign nationals recruited into his Department and its agencies are subject to (i) UK and (ii) overseas criminal record checks; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: In line with Government protocols, the Baseline Personnel Security Standard is applied as a minimum to everyone who makes an application to work in the Ministry of Justice. The Baseline Personnel Security Standard has been in effect from April 2007, where members of the public applying for employment within MOJ are asked to provide information and documentation to confirm their identity, employment or educational history, nationality and immigration status and criminal record (unspent convictions only).
	However, some posts may require a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure at standard or enhanced level, dependant on the nature and sensitivity of the post. The CRB cannot currently access overseas criminal records or other relevant information as part of its disclosure service. Where a lack of UK residence makes it impossible to carry out meaningful checks in the UK, Departments are advised to require prospective employees to provide official and verifiable overseas police certificates obtained from the country or countries of residence (where these are available). A Steering Group, chaired by the Home Office, is taking forward work to improve access to overseas convictions.

Prisoners Release: Overdoses

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 68-9W, on prisoners release: overdoses, what initiatives are in place to reduce the risk of drug-related deaths following release from prison; how the effectiveness of those initiatives is measured; for what reasons data showing the number of ex-offenders who die from a heroin overdose within a fortnight of leaving prison are not routinely collected; and if he will make it his policy to collect such data.

David Hanson: Prisons have in place a comprehensive drug treatment framework, many elements of which are designed to reduce the risk of drug-related deaths on release from prison:
	Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare (CARAT) teams provide harm minimisation to prisoners prior to release;
	working with offender managers and the Drug Interventions Programme, CARAT teams facilitate throughcare arrangements to ensure drug treatment is continued on release; and
	the integrated drug treatment system, the clinical elements of which will be introduced into all prisons by 2011, will improve considerable the quality of treatment.
	The CARAT service is subject to regular audit for effectiveness. A major research strategy is planned on the effectiveness of the integrated drug treatment system. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has also conducted research studies into drug-related death.
	There is no single case tracking system that follows individuals across community-criminal justice system treatment boundaries nor linked to the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (npSAD). There are also significant delays inherent in the process for recording causes of death. Instead, NOMS relies on research studies to produce trend data.
	NOMS together with the National Treatment Agency is exploring the feasibility of introducing into prisons the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System. This offers the potential of obtaining a better picture of treatment outcomes but would not capture ex-offenders who died while not engaged in treatment.

Young Offender Institutions: Mental Health Services

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1151W, on young offender institutions: mental health services, which young offender institutions do not provide child and adolescent mental health support (CAMHS) on site; and which institutions in England provide CAMHS treatment for inmates from young offender institutions in  (a) England and  (b) Wales.

David Hanson: All young offender institutions (YOIs) in England have access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) at Tiers 1 to 3, delivered on site, by a range of staff including primary health care staff, education staff, youth justice workers, psychologists, prison officers, child and adolescent psychiatrists, social workers, clinical psychologists.
	Tier 4 CAMHS, the level of service for children and young people with serious problems who require highly specialised in-patient treatment, will usually be delivered off-site.
	The Secure Forensic Mental Health Service for Young People oversees in-patient treatment and referrals to seven specialist NHS secure hospital units for under-18s throughout England. These are: Roycroft (Newcastle), Gardener (Manchester), Ardenleigh (Birmingham), Bill Yule (Beckenham, South London), Wells Unit (Middlesex), Malcolm Arnold Unit (Northampton) and Bluebird House (Southampton).
	The commissioning of secondary/tertiary care health services to YOIs based in Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government/NHS Wales.

TRANSPORT

Climate Change

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential contribution that extending rail services can make to tackling climate change; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Rail generally performs well from a carbon perspective. The average carbon emissions from someone travelling by car are roughly double those of someone travelling by train.
	Extending train services will result in an increase in rail carbon emissions from the longer or additional trains operated. However, because some of the passengers attracted to the new services would otherwise have driven a car for the trip, this increase will be partly offset by a reduction in carbon emissions from road traffic.

Rail Passenger Security

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to improve the personal security of railway passengers.

Tom Harris: The railway is a low crime environment with around 120 offences per million passengers. The British Transport Police's crime statistics for 2007-08 show that for the fourth year running, crime is down 11 per cent. despite 1.2 billion passengers travelling on the network, the highest numbers since the war.

Concessionary Fares

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consider the merits of providing carers and companions of disabled people with the same concessionary fares as those that they are caring for or accompanying are entitled to.

Rosie Winterton: There are no plans at present to extend statutory concessionary travel to include carers or companions of disabled people. Local authorities have an existing flexibility to offer enhancements such as this to their residents. The scheme in the hon. Member's constituency does this by offering a companion pass to its eligible disabled residents.

Concessionary Fares

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has considered the merits of a national concessionary bus far scheme for young people.

Rosie Winterton: At present, there are no proposals to make concessionary travel a statutory entitlement for young people. Any extensions to the scope of the statutory minimum would bring with them associated costs and would require careful consideration of the full impacts.

Cyclists

Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to improve the safety of cyclists on roads.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Measures to improve the safety of cyclists on roads include providing better infrastructure, funding cycle training, improved training and testing for motorists and encouraging cyclists to protect themselves, by making themselves conspicuous and by wearing a safety helmet.
	Other initiatives such as anti-drink-drive and speeding campaigns and the provision of 20 mph zones can also contribute to cyclist safety. Earlier this year we announced an extra 140 million over the next three years to promote more cycling, some of which will be for cycle training and some for providing more safe routes to schools, as well as supporting more cycle demonstration towns.

Driving Education

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with the Department for Children, Schools and Families on young people learning about driving in schools.

Jim Fitzpatrick: As part of developing our plans for a foundation certificate for safe road use contained in our Learning to Drive consultation, published on 7 May 2008, the Secretary of State for Transport met the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on 5 November 2007 and her officials had discussions with officials in his Department.

St. Pancras

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of the opening of the high speed rail service from St. Pancras on the proportion of passengers choosing to travel to cities on the continent of Europe by  (a) rail and  (b) air.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the opening of the high speed rail link to St. Pancras on the proportion of passengers choosing to use  (a) rail and  (b) air transport from the UK to destinations on the continent of Europe.

Tom Harris: The opening of the high speed rail service from St. Pancras has been a success. Eurostar report a 21.3 per cent. rise in passenger numbers in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the same quarter last year.
	The Department has not made any formal assessment of the modal shift that this represents. It is nevertheless likely that some at least of the increase will be due to passengers switching from air to rail.

Community Transport Groups

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to help community transport groups extend the range of services they offer.

Rosie Winterton: The Local Transport Bill, currently awaiting Report stage, contains provisions that would give greater flexibility over the size of vehicle used by community transport groups, and remove the restriction on paying drivers of vehicles used to provide community bus services.

West Coast Main Line

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with Network Rail on the quality of service on the west coast main line.

Tom Harris: I continue to press Network Rail about performance across the network. Officials are investigating the performance issues and I will be seeking an update from Network Rail at the next Performance Delivery Group meeting on 18 June. The group is an industry-wide body that I chair which meets on a four weekly basis.

Rail Freight

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make an assessment of the merits of further spending on rail freight stock capacity; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: We have no plans to make an assessment of the merits of further spending on rail freight rolling stock. The acquisition of such equipment is a commercial matter for the private sector train companies that operate rail freight services.

Driving Tuition

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 34-36WS, on learning to drive, what estimate her Department has made of the change in costs for learner drivers arising from the implementation of her proposals on driver training and testing.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Our aim is to develop more effective and efficient driver training and testing arrangements to improve road safety without increasing the average cost of learning to drive which we estimate currently to be some 1,500. Estimates of cost are included in the partial impact assessment published alongside the consultation document.

Cycling

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support her Department provides for employers who wish to encourage their workforce to cycle to work.

Rosie Winterton: We encourage people to cycle to work through a range of initiatives aimed at creating a cycling culture. We have helped the cycle industry develop the 'Cycle to Work' scheme which takes advantage of a tax exemption to provide bikes for staff to cycle to work and offers a way to cut substantially the cost of bikes to employees. We have also published guidance for employers on how they can encourage cycling among their staff in our Essential Guide to Travel Planning and are promoting cycling to employers through our 'National Business Travel Network'.
	Nationally, we are supporting Cycling England with 140 million over three years to increase levels of cycling. These include our six cycling demonstration towns; a further 10 demonstration towns and one city which we hope to announce before the autumn; the new cycling training scheme 'Bikeability' to give the next generation the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on today's roads; and providing guidance to local authorities on the design of cycling infrastructure.

Bus Services

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects proposals for new quality contracts for bus services to be implemented.

Rosie Winterton: It is for local transport authorities to bring forward quality contracts schemes for bus services, either under existing legislation or under the provisions as amended by the Local Transport Bill, if enacted.

Rail Services

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to encourage rail companies to improve the performance of connecting services.

Tom Harris: The franchise agreements with the train operators specify that they must co-operate with other operators when developing their timetables to enable passengers to make connections. Train operators make best endeavours to aid passengers with connecting services, with particular focus given to services operating infrequently and to the last train services each day.

Airport Security

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of levels of airport security; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The measures in the National Aviation Security Programme exist to safeguard passengers from terrorism. They must be effective and proportionate to the evolving threat and minimise burdens on passengers and the industry. These measures are kept under constant review in close co-operation with the industry.

Aviation: Hampshire

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will publish the noise maps for each airfield in Hampshire; and when each  (a) was last and  (b) will next be updated.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Secretary of State for Transport publishes annual aircraft noise contour maps for the three London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) which are designated under section 80 for the purposes of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 for noise control purposes. These follow the standard UK practice of producing aircraft noise contours for the average summer's day (Leq 16 hour, 07.00-23.00) where 'summer' is the 92-day period from 16 June to 15 September.
	The Secretary of State is not responsible for the production of noise contour maps at non-designated airports. The publication of aircraft noise contour maps is a matter for local decision. Individual airports will need to have regard to local circumstances, including requirements under planning conditions/agreements.
	Under the European Environmental Noise Directive (END) 2002/49/EC, member states are required to produce strategic noise maps every five years for the main sources of environmental noise, including major airports with more than 50,000 movements (a movement being a take-off or landing) per year. The relevant UK airports including Southampton produced maps last year. The maps can be viewed on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website:
	www.noisemapping.defra.gov.uk.
	The Environmental Noise Directive requires that maps should represent annual average noise values and requires the use of four different parameters. These are Lday (07.00-19.00), Levening (19.00-23.00), Lnight (23.00-07.00), Leq 16 hour (07.00-23.00), and Lden (00.00-24.00).
	Given the difference in parameters, caution should be exercised in attempting any comparison between 'traditional' UK annual summer daytime aircraft noise contour maps and aircraft contour maps produced in accordance with the Environmental Noise Directive.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has issued guidance to staff in her Department to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport and its agencies are very conscious of the need to reduce power, thereby contributing to a common target to reduce carbon emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11, and 30 per cent. by 2020-21.
	All have policies of shutting down computers when not in use, and at night. Staff are regularly instructed and reminded to do so through training, circulars, general guidance and night security checks. In addition, DfT (Central) has implemented a policy of automatic shutdown of computers at 7 pm every Friday evening.
	Departmental procurement policy also states that preference should be given to energy-efficient IT equipment when new purchases are made.

Departmental Correspondence

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to respond to the letter from Lesley Welch, Newport Pagnell Town Clerk, dated 15 May 2008.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department has no record of receiving this letter.

Departmental Disclosure of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is her Department's policy to release the home addresses of  (a) senior and  (b) middle-ranking officials, if requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and what assessment she has made of the implications for personal security resulting from the release of such data.

Tom Harris: holding answer 2 June 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice on 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 640W.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) staff at senior civil service level in (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport is currently in the process of conducting performance management reviews and allocating any applicable bonuses. This process is likely to come to a conclusion in late July 2008.

Shipping: Aircraft

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of introducing Mode S transponders across the UK aircraft fleet, with particular reference to any effect on air sports; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Mode S transponders are the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) approved replacement for Mode A and Mode C transponders which use outdated technology. On 31 May 2008 the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) concluded their consultation on phase 2 of their proposals to extend the use of Mode S transponders. This is part of the CAA's phased approach to improving the technical interoperability of aircraft in UK airspace. They will consider carefully all the responses they have received before making a decision.
	Phase 1, which came into force on 31 March 2008, required the use of Mode S for existing transponders. All aircraft that were required to carry Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) Mode A and C transponders had to be upgraded to Mode S capability. A transition period of four years will be provided during which time upgrades of existing transponders can be completed. All new installations of SSR equipment and all new aircraft brought into service with an SSR transponder already installed will now need to be Mode S compliant.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much was contributed to the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund in each year since 2002;
	(2)  how much was spent on projects under the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund in each year since 2002.

Jonathan R Shaw: Total expenditure on the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund in England is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Expenditure  ( million) 
			 2002-03 17.9 
			 2003-04 19.2 
			 2004-05 19.5 
			 2005-06 25.4 
			 2006-07 19.6 
			 2007-08 19.7 
		
	
	The amount spent on projects each year will be slightly less than this as the above figures include the expenditure of our delivery partners in administering the funding, which can be up to 7 per cent. of the total funding they receive.

Aggregates: Carbon Emissions

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions from the aggregates industry in each year since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Quarry Products Association estimate that emissions from the quarry products industry are 800,000 tonnes of carbon per year. This includes aggregates, asphalt, ready mixed concrete, lime and mortar, but excludes delivery transport.

Agriculture: Subsidies

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the common agricultural policy prior to the 13 May 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 22 May 2008
	It is long established practice under successive Governments that information relating to discussions between Ministers is not normally disclosed. The Government's position on the common agricultural policy was set out in the joint DEFRA/Treasury vision paper published in December 2005.

Animal Welfare

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 1121-2W, on animal welfare, what progress has been made on drafting a protocol to take into account the views of religious communities when enforcing the requirements of animal health and welfare legislation.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 2 June 2008
	A draft protocol to underpin the handling of animal welfare cases in co-operation with the Hindu community has been prepared. This is currently being considered by members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness at Bhaktivedanta Manor. The draft protocol sets out the way in which the beliefs of the Hindu community will be taken into account when enforcing animal welfare legislation and will apply to cattle in the care of the Hindu community at temples and similarly designated sacred sites. The protocol is intended to ensure that everyone involved understands how animal welfare legislation will be enforced in the future.
	The draft will be reviewed in the light of the comments received and will then be sent to the organisations involved in the enforcement of the welfare provisions in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the wider Hindu community, for comment.

Asbestos: Alnwick

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken to locate missing records of asbestos treatment carried out in the 1990s at his Department's offices in Alnwick, Northumberland; where these records would normally have been kept; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, now DEFRA, assumed responsibility for this site in 1992-93. It was transferred from the Property Services Agency (PSA) which now no longer exists. Anecdotal evidence implies that PSA commissioned asbestos removal works in 1988 but no records were handed over at the point of transfer to MAFF and no files were kept at that time on site.
	For clarification no asbestos treatment work was undertaken during 1990s and therefore there are no records.
	In 2004 DEFRA undertook Asbestos Type III surveys across the estate, and results from Alnwick revealed small particles of asbestos in the ceiling void. Air tests were immediately conducted and have continued since that time. Test result records have been maintained since 2004.

Bees: Research

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding was allocated by his Department to bee health research in each year since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following list shows the funding allocated by DEFRA for honey bee health research. This includes funding for specific honey bee health projects and elements of other funded research which benefits honey bee health.
	
		
			   000 
			 1997-98 214.5 
			 1998-99 247.6 
			 1999-2000 241.1 
			 2000-01 230.0 
			 2001-02 313.7 
			 2002-03 286.9 
			 2003-04 273.1 
			 2004-05 282.1 
			 2005-06 254.4 
			 2006-07 302.5 
			 2007-08 321.2

Biofuels

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect on air quality of increasing use of biofuels.

Jonathan R Shaw: My Department has made no specific assessment. However, the Department for Transport has commissioned and published various pieces of research into the effects of biofuels on air quality.

Cattle: Ear Tagging

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring he is undertaking of compliance with the double-ear tag requirement in relation to cattle; what representations he has received on the effectiveness of the scheme; and if he will consider the merits of returning to a system of single ear-tags.

Jonathan R Shaw: The unique, lifetime, individual identification of bovine animals is an essential element of the work to control and eradicate Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). The requirement for bovines to have an officially approved tag in each ear bearing identical official identification numbers (double-tagging) has been directly applicable Community law since 1 January 1998. Double-tagging was chosen to give surer guarantees that an animal's identity remains secure throughout its life. There are no immediate plans to alter this.
	Member states are required to inspect annually 10 per cent. of the cattle holdings in their territory for compliance with bovine identification and registration rules, and to report the result to the EU Commission by 31 August. The inspections must be unannounced and cover all animals present on the holding. Holdings must be selected by risk analysis. This inspection regime has been operating since 1998. In England, Rural Payments Agency inspectors inspect around 5,000 farms each year, checking each animal's tags, cattle passport, and records. Copies of the annual report can be seen on the animal identification section of DEFRA's website. Last year, around 1.5 per cent. of the animals inspected in Britain did not fully comply with the tagging rules. This rate of compliance is good and has been consistently so since 2000.
	I consider the monitoring of double-tagging to be effective. Our systems were considered sufficiently robust for the EU Commission to lift the ten-year beef and cattle export ban in 2006. I have received no representations on their effectiveness.

Coastal Areas: Archaeology

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will seek the inclusion of provisions in the forthcoming Marine Bill to protect coastal artefacts of historic importance.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government's principal legislative tools for protecting coastal artefacts of historic importance are the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, or the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, depending on the nature and whereabouts of the particular artefact. The draft Heritage Protection Bill contains provisions for a new unified legal framework for protecting such assets in future.
	The draft Marine Bill will introduce a new system of marine planning, which will enable Government to communicate our policies on heritage in coastal and marine areas, and clarify the locations and obligations attached to sites of historic interest. The draft Marine Bill will make clear that the duty of licensing authorities to have regard to the need to protect the environment when they make decisions includes the protection of sites of historic or archaeological interest. Where appropriate, conditions to do this could be included in the terms of a marine licence.

Dairy Farming

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average age of dairy farmers was in the UK at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: The average (median) age of a holder on dairy farms in the UK in 2005 was 55 years.
	 Notes:
	1. Holdings where a limited company or institution takes financial or legal responsibility for the holding, or where there is no single holder, have been excluded.
	2. The median age is the middle age when the ages of all holders are put in ascending order.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many receptions he has hosted and funded in his capacity as Secretary of State in the last 12 months; which individuals and organisations  (a) were invited to and  (b) attended each reception; and what the cost was of each reception.

Jonathan R Shaw: We will publish in due course an annual list providing information relating to official receptions hosted by Ministers in the Department during the course of the previous financial year.

Farms: Local Authorities

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to maintain the number of tenanted or managed farms owned by local authorities.

Jonathan R Shaw: Under the Agriculture Act 1970, the Government have no powers to require local authorities to maintain statutory smallholdings; this decision rests entirely with individual authorities. There are currently no plans to change the legislation.

Fisheries: Quotas

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for UK fishermen of the Scottish Executive's moratorium on transfer of Scottish fixed quota allocation units and licences; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 2 June 2008
	At this time I am unable to make a proper assessment of the implications of the moratorium on any part of the UK fishing fleet as there is still some uncertainty about exactly how in practice the Scottish Executive intend to apply it. I have expressed my profound disappointment at this unilateral action, which tears up long-standing arrangements between England and Scotland for managing fishing licences and quotas. It creates additional risk and uncertainty for fishermen at a time when they are already under enormous pressure and prevents then from carrying out their legitimate business.

Fisheries: Scotland

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with his Scottish counterpart on the decision taken by the Scottish Executive to introduce a moratorium on fisheries licence and quota transfers; when he was notified of the moratorium; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK fishing industry of the decision by the Scottish Executive to implement a moratorium on licence and quota transfers; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will take steps to review the terms of the concordat with the Scottish Executive on fisheries following the decision by the Scottish Executive to implement a moratorium on licence and quota transfers; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  whether he has taken legal advice on the decision taken by the Scottish Executive to implement a moratorium on fisheries licence and quota transfers; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have had no discussions with my Scottish counterpart about the moratorium and was first advised of it late on Thursday 15 May, the day before it was announced. At this time I am unable to make a proper assessment of its impact on any part of the UK fishing fleet as there is still some uncertainty about exactly how in practice the Scottish Executive intend to apply it. In the absence of that information it is impossible to make a full judgment of the legality of the moratorium but the preliminary advice that I have received is that it may be unlawful. I have expressed my profound disappointment at this unilateral action, which tears up long-standing arrangements between England and Scotland for managing fishing licences and quotas. It creates additional risk and uncertainty for fishermen at a time when they are already under enormous pressure and prevents then from carrying out their legitimate business. I am saddened that the Scottish Executive no longer feel able to work within the collaborative framework of the fisheries concordat. In our view the concordat is still valid given the continuing need for the UK Government and devolved Administrations to work together.

Flood Control: Finance

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the  (a) pre-construction budget and  (b) outturn cost of each major flood defence project was since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the  (a) target completion date and  (b) completion date for each major flood defence project was since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 2 June 2008
	I regret that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the usual timescale. I shall write as soon as possible and a copy of my reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Floods

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many households are deemed to be at high risk of flooding in England and Wales; and of these  (a) to how many households the Floodline Warnings Direct system is available and  (b) how many are registered with it;
	(2)  how much the Flood Warnings Direct system cost to  (a) develop and  (b) install.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency's 2006 National Flood Risk Assessment divides properties into three probability bands as follows:
	Significant Probability (1 in 75): 517,000 properties
	Moderate Probability (1 in 200): 567,000 properties
	Low Probability (1 in 1,000): 1,191,000 properties
	As of 1 August 2007, the Environment Agency reported that the Floodline Warnings Direct Service was available to 794,000 properties and, of these, 240,000 were registered.
	The Environment Agency has informed me that the Floodline Warnings Direct system cost 14.2 million over four years to develop and implement. The breakdown of these costs are as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 System development 4.5 
			 Equipment and Installation 5.5 
			 Implementation and other costs 4.2

Floods

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to increase the number of people in England and Wales at high risk of flooding to whom Floodline Warnings Direct is available;
	(2)  how many people at risk or high risk of flooding in England and Wales are estimated to be unaware of the risk.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA and the Environment Agency have agreed upon an annual programme of expansion, improvement and recruitment to the flood warning service. This is documented in the Environment Agency's Flood Warning Investment Strategy.
	The aim of the strategy is to make the Flood Warnings available to 80 per cent. of those identified as being at risk of flooding within the Environment Agency's Flood Map, by March 2013. The Environment Agency is on course to meet this target.

Food Supply

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's strategy is for ensuring security of food supply within the UK.

Jonathan R Shaw: Within the UK, domestic food security depends upon diversity of supply and strong trading links (most of the food we import comes from the EU), strong and resilient strategic infrastructure, effective risk management and contingency planning, and critically, for an energy-intensive food chain, security of energy supplies.

Smoking

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: We do not have any smoking shelters on the London estate.

Supermarkets: Environment Protection

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to engage leading supermarkets in programmes to foster the environmental enhancement of local communities.

Jonathan R Shaw: Food and drink packaging makes up a large proportion of the litter people drop, and the Government are working with food outlets, manufacturers and retailers to address this. Reducing litter caused by food on the goA Voluntary Code of Practice launched in October 2004, is one example. Fast food operators, shops and supermarkets are encouraged to sign up to this Code of Practice, which then commits them to work in partnership with the council to improve their local environment, for instance by providing additional bins, staffing regular litter sweeps around their outlets, conducting research into waste minimisation and promoting the anti-litter message to their customers.

Waste Management: Contracts

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which companies are contracted by local authorities for municipal waste management services, broken down by local authority.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA does not hold this information.

Whales: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues on whaling since January 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I discuss whaling with my colleagues in other Government Departments on a regular basis. UK Government policy on whalingin particular our strong support for the maintenance of the moratorium on commercial whalingis supported by all Government Departments.

Whales: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives from  (a) the Japanese Government,  (b) the Norwegian Government and  (c) the Icelandic Government on whaling since January 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: On 8 January, I called in the deputy ambassador from the Japanese embassy in London to express the UK's outrage and urge Japan to end its slaughter of whales.
	The deputy ambassador was left in no doubt of the strength of feeling in this country and that the UK is outraged by Japan's whaling activities and considers Japan's lethal research wholly unnecessary.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met the Prime Minister of Iceland on 24 April and reiterated the UK's strong opposition to whaling. The Icelandic Prime Minister was left in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in the UK on the issue.
	There have been no discussions on whaling since January between DEFRA Ministers and Norwegian representatives. However please be assured that DEFRA Ministers and FCO posts will raise the issue of whaling with these countries' representatives whenever it is appropriate to do so.

Whales: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives from Romania on their recent membership of the International Whaling Commission; whether he expects them to support the international moratorium on whaling; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) has written to the Romanian Government welcoming their decision to join the International Whaling Commission (IWC). In discussions at official level in Brussels, Romania agreed that the EU line at the forthcoming annual meeting of the IWC should be to support the maintenance of the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling. I am therefore in no doubt that Romania will take a pro-conservation stance at that meeting.

Whales: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he expects there to be an attempt to overturn the international moratorium on commercial whaling at the forthcoming International Whaling Commission meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I think it unlikely that there will be any formal proposal put to the 60th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) specifically seeking the removal of that paragraph in the schedule to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling which provides for the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling. However, there will be discussion on whether, and if so how, Japan's desire for a quota of minke whales for coastal communities in Japan can or should be accommodated; these discussions are not likely to be concluded at this meeting.

Whales: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he will be able to name the countries that are  (a) members of the International Whaling Commission and  (b) not members of the International Whaling Commission to which the Government have (i) sent the Protecting WhalesA Global Responsibility document and (ii) written about whaling since January 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: For reasons given in my reply of 6 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1296W, and of 28 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1874W, I do not think it appropriate to provide the information sought by the hon. Member.

Whales: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to attend the 60th meeting of the International Whaling Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I plan to attend the next annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to be held in Santiago, Chile in June 2008. If conflicting priorities make this impossible it is planned one of my fellow DEFRA Ministers will represent the UK in Santiago.
	The UK will, both at the 60th meeting and beyond, continue to support the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling and oppose all forms of whaling, other than limited whaling operations by indigenous people for subsistence purposes.

Whales: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether he expects new members to join the International Whaling Commission in time to be able to vote at the forthcoming International Whaling Commission meeting; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of International Whaling Commission members likely to  (a) support the international moratorium on commercial whaling and  (b) oppose the international moratorium on commercial whaling should a vote be called on the matter at the 60(th) meeting of the International Whaling Commission; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when he next plans to discuss whaling with  (a) his Cabinet colleagues and  (b) representatives from foreign Governments that (i) are and (ii) are not members of the International Whaling Commission; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  when he last discussed whaling with his foreign counterparts; whether he has directly lobbied any countries to join the International Whaling Commission and support the international moratorium on commercial whaling; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Partly as a consequence of UK lobbying effort, two new countries (Uruguay and Romania), have joined the International Whaling Commission (IWC) since last year, and Nicaragua's voting rights have been re-instated so that Nicaragua can now vote on the anti-whaling side. We do not know which countries, if any, may have been recruited to the pro-whaling side; the final voting numbers will be unknown until the plenary session opens on 23 June. We would nonetheless expect to have a clear majority of countries present and voting at this year's annual meeting of the IWC ready to support the maintenance of the moratorium on commercial whaling, should its future be put to a vote. In the unlikely event that the pro-whaling countries hold the simple majority, they are unlikely to be able to end the moratorium, a vote on which requires a three-quarter majority.
	Cabinet Members, along with all hon. Members, will shortly receive a 'Dear Colleague' letter which provides a full report of HMG's aims for the forthcoming annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting, making clear that the UK remains vigorously opposed to whaling and detailing our position on issues such as the importance of welfare considerations and whale watching.
	I discussed whaling with the hon. Peter Garrett MP, Australian Minister for the Environment on 25 April. Among other issues, we discussed the meeting I had with the Japanese deputy ambassador on 8 January to express the UK's outrage over Japan's 'scientific' whaling activities.

White Fish: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of bass stocks in  (a) the Tamar,  (b) the Solent,  (c) the Thames and  (d) nationwide in each year since 1977; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the spawning stocks for bass in the UK.

Jonathan R Shaw: Bass are highly mobile and migratory fish and the exact identity of stocks is not well understood. Around the UK bass stocks are generally assessed in four units, namely the North sea, the eastern English channel, the western English channel and the UK west coast and not in terms of specific estuaries. However pre-recruit surveys (i.e. surveys of juvenile fish before they recruit to the fishery) have been carried out in the Tamar, Solent and Thames.
	(i) Pre-recruit surveys available for the Tamar since 1984 suggest that year-classes in the mid 1980s were weak, while through the 1990s there were some strong year-classes and some weak year-classes. The 2002 year-class appeared strong in this area, and 2004 was above average as age 0 fish, but since then the indices in this area are low.
	(ii) Pre-recruit indices in the Solent are available since 1977 and show a similar pattern of weak year-classes in the mid 1980s, several strong year-classes interspersed with weaker ones through the 1990s and a decline to more average levels since 2000.
	(iii) Pre-recruit indices in the Thames estuary are only available since the mid 1990s. They indicate relatively strong year-classes in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Provisional estimates for 2006 and 2007 suggest these year-classes may also be strong.
	(iv) Bass stocks around the UK were analytically assessed by ICES in 2004 and more recently by CEFAS. They indicated that spawning stock biomass had increased substantially following a number of strong recruitments in the 1990s, and that biomass levels in all areas were currently close to the series maxima (on the basis of data from 1985 onwards).

White Fish: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when he plans to introduce measures to conserve bass stocks for anglers; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his policy is on the designation of bass as a wholly recreational stock; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: There are a number of measures in place to conserve bass stocks for all those with an interest in the stock. These include a minimum landing size of 36 cm, a prohibition on the use of enmeshing nets with a mesh size of between 65 and 89 mm, and a ban on fishing from boats for bass in 37 areas around the coast of England and Wales where undersized fish are particularly vulnerable to capture, known as bass nursery areas.
	Bass is a particularly important stock for the inshore fishing fleet. Given the current pressures faced by this fleet and the relatively healthy state of the stock at present, I could not justify designating bass as a wholly recreational stock. However, I have announced a package of new measures that will provide benefits for stocks of bass and more widely for anglers. This includes a review of bass nursery areas and inshore netting restrictions and for consultation on the designation and design of new areas. We are also funding research exploring the use of restricted areas to benefit recreational anglers.

White Fish: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the total bass biomass in UK waters in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Bass stocks around the UK were last assessed by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in 2004 and more recently by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) in 2006 and 2008. The latest assessments suggest that since 1997 the biomass of bass in UK waters has continued to increase in all areas.

White Fish: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what bass sampling his Department undertakes; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Marine and Fisheries Agency samples commercial landings of bass in accordance with the European Commission data collection regulation. Samples of scales and length information are processed by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) to provide information on population length and age structure. In recent years, CEFAS has processed around 2,000 scale samples and 4,000 length measurements per year.
	CEFAS also carries out pre-recruit surveys (i.e. surveys of juvenile fish before they recruit to the fishery) in the Thames and Solent and commissions a pre-recruit survey in the Tamar. As part of a new R and D programme, CEFAS will also be investigating the utility of data from power station intake screens to provide new recruitment indices.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Airports: Security

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2008,  Official Report, column 738W, on airports: security, what records are kept of passengers arrested while attempting to pass through UK airport security; how many passengers were arrested in the last 12 months; and how many of those have been  (a) charged and  (b) convicted of an offence.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally. The police use their powers at an airport in the same way as at any other location as appropriate. Information held by the Ministry of Justice on the number of arrests is based on aggregated data reported by the 43 police forces in England and Wales. Data are collected centrally by main offence group such as violence against the person, sexual offences, drugs offences, etc. It is not possible to determine from these data the circumstances or location of an arrest, such as an airport.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cautions were issued for public drinking offences in Suffolk in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The number of cautions issued in Suffolk for public drinking offences can be found in the following table. Additionally, Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) were rolled out to all police forces in 2004. The data shows that in 2004, 302 persons received a PND for public drinking offences in Suffolk. In 2005 the figure was 404, and in 2006 the figure was 376.
	
		
			  Number of offenders cautioned for public drinking offences in Suffolk police force area, 2002 to 2006( 1,2,3) 
			   Cautioned 
			 2002 268 
			 2003 240 
			 2004(4) 188 
			 2005 81 
			 2006 70 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The data above include the following offences and statutes; Being found drunk in a highway or other Public place whether a building or not, or a licensed premisesLicensing Act 1872 sec 12. Alcohol consumption in designated public placesCriminal Justice and Police Act 2001 sec 12. Any person who in any public place is guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviourCriminal Justice Act 1967 sec.91. (4) The Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) scheme was rolled out to all police forces in 2004. Three offences in the scheme relate to public drinking.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the effect on crime levels of binge drinking.

Vernon Coaker: The Government take the issue of crime committed by individuals when drunk, or through binge drinking, very seriously. The Government are aware that drinking among young people under the age of 18 is associated with criminal and disorderly behaviour. Nearly half of all 10 to 17-year-olds who drink once a week or more, admitted to some sort of criminal or disorderly behaviour. Of young people aged 18 to 24, those who binge drink were far more likely to admit to committing criminal or disorderly behaviour during or after drinking.
	The Government have taken a number of actions in order to combat this issue, including introducing the Tackling Violent Crime Programme (TVCP) which was launched in November 2004. Additionally, local areas are now required to address alcohol-related issues within their crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRP) strategies. The Government have produced guidance to assist local areas in producing their strategies, and the Government offices for the regions are co-ordinating this requirement within their specific region. The Government have also recently published A practical guide for dealing with alcohol related problems which is aimed at local alcohol practitioners and gives advice about the tools and powers available to tackle alcohol-related crime.
	The Government are working to improve the way alcohol-related offenders are dealt with in custody and in the community. The National Offender Management Service is taking this work forward which includes; the publication of an alcohol pack for offenders under probation supervision, disseminating across the national probation service learning points from alcohol best practice projects, as well as work to develop two alcohol treatment programmes for prisons.
	Additionally, the Government have funded four alcohol arrest referral pilots. These schemes aim to offer custody-based interventions from a trained worker in order to reduce reoffending. These pilots will be rolled out to 10 new areas, which will ensure that the under 18s will also benefit from these interventions.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records she holds on levels of binge drinking by  (a) men and  (b) women over the last 10 years, broken down by age groups.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office does not routinely collect records on levels of binge drinking by age and gender although a number of ad hoc studies have been published over the past decade. These are as listed.
	It is also worth noting that there is no universally agreed definition of binge drinking, but the term has generally been used to describe a pattern of drinking that involves drinking alcohol to excess over a short period of time.
	Underage drinking: findings from the 2004 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey Matthews et al (2006) Home Office Findings 277). The report can be found here:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/r277.pdf
	Findings from the 2003 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey: alcohol related crime and disorder. Matthews, S. and Richardson, A. (2005) Home Office Findings 261). The report can be found here:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/r261.pdf
	Alcohol, Crime and disorder: a study of young adults. Richardson, A. and Budd, T. (2003) Home Office Research Study 263). The report can be found here:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors263.pdf
	Drunk and disorderly: a qualitative study of binge drinking among 18 to 24-year-olds, Engineer et al, (2003) Home Office research Study 262. The report can be found here:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors262.pdf
	The impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder: an evaluation. The report can be found here:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/horr04c.pdf

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) cautioned,  (b) prosecuted and  (c) given a penalty notice for disorder for selling alcohol to people under the age of 18 years in each constituency in Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Information held on the court proceedings and PND databases cannot be broken down by constituency area, therefore information has been provided by police force area.
	The number of persons issued with a caution, penalty notice for disorder, or proceeded against at magistrates courts for the offence of selling alcohol to people under the age of 18 years in Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire police force areas for the years 2002 to 2006 can be viewed in tables 1 and 2 as follows.
	
		
			  N umber of persons issued with a caution, or proceeded against at magistrates courts for certain alcohol offences in the Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire police force areas for the years 2002 to 2006( 1,2,3,4) 
			   Proceeded against  Cautions( 5) 
			  Force  2002  2003  2004  2005( 3)  2006( 3)  2002  2003  2004  2005( 3)  2006( 3) 
			 Humberside 0 0 11 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 7 22 3 41 0 0 0 1 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 5 18 10 0 38 35 25 8 
			 West Yorkshire 14 1 21 15 17 0 0 0 1 0 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Holder of occasional permission or his agent knowingly selling to, knowingly allow consumption by or allowing any person to sell, intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Selling etc intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises. Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(1). Licensing Act 1964 Sec 169(1). Sale of alcohol to a person Under 18, Licensing Act 2003 S.146(1). Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18, Licensing Act 1964 Sec 181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 Sec 17. Allow sale of alcohol to an individual under 18, Licensing Act 2003 Sec 147(1) and (5). (3) The Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (5) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. Reprimands and final warnings are included in the above data.  Source: Court proceedings data held by RDSOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			  N umber of persons issued with a penalty notice for disorder for the offence sale of alcohol to person under 18 in the Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire police force areas for the years 2004 to 2006( 1,2,3) 
			   Sale of alcohol to person under 18 
			  Force  2004  2005( 4)  2006( 4) 
			 Humberside 2 45 48 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 11 
			 South Yorkshire 2 107 158 
			 West Yorkshire 4 72 105 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statute: Sale of alcohol anywhere to a person under 18. s.146(1) of the Licensing Act 2003 (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) New legislative reference with effect from, 24 November 2005 on implementation of Licensing Act 2003  Source: Court proceedings data held by RDSOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many retailers were prosecuted in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England and Wales for the illegal sale of alcohol to people under the age of 18 years in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the court proceedings database cannot be broken down by constituency or district level, therefore information has been provided by police force area.
	The number of defendants proceeded against in Northumbria police force area, the North East Region, and England and Wales for the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years from 1997 to 2006 can be viewed in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against in magistrates courts for the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years in Northumbria police force area, the North East Region, and England and Wales for the years 1997 to 2006( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Proceeded against 
			  Force/region/area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Northumbria 34 92 41 17 17 8 38 51 79 41 
			 North East 34 94 41 18 18 9 42 63 95 52 
			 England and Wales 215 311 205 132 158 170 616 861 1,084 1,199 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Holder of occasional permission or agent knowingly selling intoxicating liquor to person under 18 Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 S.4(1)(a), Licensing Act S.169A and 169B, as added by Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 S.1 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18 Licensing Act 1964 S.181 A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 S.17. Sale of alcohol to a person under 18 Licensing Act 2003 S.146(1) Allow sale of alcohol to an individual under 18 Licensing Act 2003 S.147(1) and (5). (3) Staffordshire police force were only able to supply a 9 per cent. sample of data for magistrates courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust at a detailed level and are not included in the England and Wales figures. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Court proceedings data held by RDS, Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Ministry of Justice.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals in  (a) Peterborough constituency and  (b) Cambridgeshire were (i) cautioned and (ii) fined for selling alcohol to underage persons in each year since 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Information held on the court proceedings and PND databases cannot be broken down by constituency, the information has been provided for police force area.
	There were no persons issued with a caution for the offence of selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years in Cambridgeshire police force area for the years 2001 to 2006.
	The number of persons fined at all courts for the offence of selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years in Cambridgeshire police force area for the years 2001 to 2006 can be viewed in table 1.
	In addition to court fines, police can issue an 'on the spot fine' or a penalty notice for disorder (PND) for the offence of selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18. The number of persons issued with PND for the offence in Cambridgeshire police force area for the years 2004 to 2006 can be viewed in table2. The PND scheme was rolled out to all police forces in England and Wales in 2004.
	
		
			  Number of persons fined at all courts for offences relating to certain alcohol offences in the Cambridgeshire police force area for the years 2001 to 2006( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Fines 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 7 
			 2006 18 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: 14203Holder of occasional permission or his agent knowingly selling to, knowingly allow consumption by or allowing any person to sell, intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises. Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec. 3) para 4(1). Licensing Act 1964 Sec. 169(1).  14379Sale of alcohol to a person Under 18 Licensing Act 2003 S.146(1).  14352Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Licensing Act 1964 Sec. 181A(l) as added by Licensing Act 1988 Sec. 17.  14380Allow sale of alcohol to an individual under 18. Licensing Act 2003 Sec 147(1)  (5). (3 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Note:  The Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005.  Source:  Court proceedings data held by RDSOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice Our Ref: IOS 159-08 (Table 1). 
		
	
	
		
			  N umber of persons issued with a penalty notice for disorder for the offence Sale of alcohol to person under 18 in the Cambridgeshire police force area for the years 2004 to 2006( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Sale of alcohol to person under 18 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 11 
			 2006 14 
			 (1 )These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statute: Sale of alcohol anywhere to a person under 18. s.146(1) of the Licensing Act 2003. (3 )New legislative reference with effect from 24 November 2005 on implementation of Licensing Act 2003. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Court proceedings data held by RDSOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice. Our Ref: IOS 159-08 (Table 2)

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many shop keepers in North Kent have received fixed penalty notices for selling alcohol to under 18-year-olds in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The number of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) issued for the offence of selling alcohol to an under 18-year-old in the Kent Police Force area has been provided in the following table. Those PNDs which were issued in the North Kent area cannot be identified as data are not collected to this level of detail.
	
		
			  N umber of Persons issued with a Penalty Notice for Disorder for the offence of selling alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years in Kent police force area, 2004 to 2006( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Sale of alcohol anywhere to a person under 18 
			 2004(4)  
			 2005 10 
			 2006 5 
			 (1) PND data are a count of all penalty notices for disorder issued during the year. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces and courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Sale of alcohol anywhere to a person under 18 5.146(1) of the Licensing Act 2003 (4) November to December.  Source: Court proceedings data held by CJEA - Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Ministry of Justice.

Asylum

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers were removed in each month since 1 January 2005; what the monthly predicted number of unfounded asylum applications was for each such month; in how many months the Government met their tipping point policy since the policy was introduced; and if she will make a statement on the future of the tipping point target.

Liam Byrne: Monthly removals figures can be found in the quarterly statistics publications at the following address:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	Levels of predicted unfounded asylum applications and whether the tipping point target has been met for 2004, 2005 and 2006 can be found on the UK Border Agency website at the following address:
	http://ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/reports/publicperformancetarget/
	Monthly information for the tipping point target was not available prior to January 2006.
	The 2007 data are not yet available.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition: Ports

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2008,  Official Report, column 275W, on ports: automatic number plate recognition, whether there are any automatic number plate recognition systems in use at British ports; and whether any are configured to read foreign number plates.

Vernon Coaker: I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 743W.
	On the latter point, automatic number plate recognition is a well-established technology that allows vehicles observed by camera to have their registration mark 'read' using pattern recognition software. This technology has the ability to recognise the majority of foreign vehicle number plates. However, it is not possible to specify all the number plates that can or cannot be read as some countries' number plates contain unrecognisable characters.

Crime

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were recorded per 1,000 population in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) each police force area in each year since 1997, broken down by type of offence.

Vernon Coaker: Data on rates per 1,000 population for each offence group and for each police force area are available from 2001-02 and are given in the tables placed in the House Library.
	As a result of the findings of two independent reviews of crime statistics in 2006, a number of changes have been made to the classifications of offences. Therefore all of the offence categories shown in the tables are based on the new classifications. Providing data for earlier years, where the requested data are not held on electronic databases, would entail disproportionate cost.

Departmental Equality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department met the Civil Service diversity targets set out on page 51 of Cabinet Office Annual Report 2007 by April 2008.

Liam Byrne: The 2007-08 employment monitoring report is not due to be published until autumn of this year. The status of the Home Office in respect of the Cabinet Office diversity targets, as set out in '10 Point Plan on creating a diverse civil service', is shown in the following table. This is taken from information collected by the Office for National Statistics as at April 2007.
	
		
			  Proportion of staff in diversity categories 
			  Percentage 
			  SCS  Home Office  Whitehall 2008 PSA target 
			 Women 31.80 37 
			 Women in top management posts 35.30 30 
			 Minority Ethnic 3.90 4 
			 Disabled 2.00 3.20 
			  Note: The percentages shown in relation to ethnicity and disability are given as a percentage of the 'known' data in relation to Home Office HQ staff as at 31 March 2007; this excludes the high level of 'unknowns'.

Departmental Telephone Services

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-geographic telephone numbers are in use by her Department and its agencies; and how much revenue her Department and its agencies generated through the use of non-geographic telephone numbers in each year in which such numbers have been in use.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 7 February 2008
	There are currently 43 non-geographic numbers being used by the Home Office and its agencies. The following table outlines these numbers and their purpose. Information about the revenue generated by each of these lines is not held centrally and as such it is not possible to answer this aspect of the question within the time and cost limits of the PQ process.
	
		
			  Number  Purpose  Type 
			 0870 521 0410 Passport advice line Phone 
			 0870 240 8090 Passport advice line (Text Phone Service) Minicon 
			 0870 243 4477 Passport enquiries for High Street Partners Phone 
			 0870 243 1902 Passport Complaints Phone 
			 0845 121 0046 Authentication by Interview (ABI) Booking Line Phone 
			 0845 603 7788 GRO Certificate Services Phone 
			 0870 1251256 Siemens Business Services Query Letters Phone 
			 0870 909 0778 Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure dispute line Phone 
			 0870 909 0844 Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure application line Phone 
			 0870 909 0223 Criminal Records Bureau Welsh Language Line Phone 
			 0870 909 0344 Criminal Records Bureau Minicon 
			 0870 909 0811 Criminal Records Bureau General Inquiries Phone 
			 0870 909 0822 Criminal Records Bureau Registration Information Line Phone 
			 0870 241 4680 Home Office's mailing house, Prolog Phone 
			 0870 241 4786 Home Office's mailing house, Prolog Fax 
			 0870 220 2000 TOGETHER (advice line for practitioners on tackling antisocial behaviour). Phone 
			 0870 336 9031 Contact Private Office to Jacqui Smith Fax 
			 0870 336 9032 Contact Private Office to Lord West Fax 
			 0870 336 9033 Contact Private Office to Vernon Coaker Fax 
			 0870 336 9034 Contact Private Office to Liam Byrne Fax 
			 0870 336 9035 Contact Private Office to Tony McNulty Fax 
			 0870 336 9036 Contact Private Office to Meg Hillier Fax 
			 0870 336 9048 Contact Parliamentary Team Fax 
			 0870 336 9045 Contact Ministers' Special Advisers Fax 
			 0870 336 9041 Contact Private Office Management Support Unit Fax 
			 0870 336 9037 Contact Permanent Secretary's Office Fax 
			 0845 0106677 UKBA Employers' Helpline Phone 
			 0845 039 8002 PROSPECTS helpline Phone 
			 0845 601 2298 UKBA Evidence and Enquiry line Phone 
			 0870 240 3781 Immigration Enquiry Bureau (enforcement and removals - recorded message only) Phone 
			 0845 6021739 Enquiries about asylum support applications Phone 
			 0870 606 7766 Immigration Enquiry Bureau Phone 
			 0870 241 0645 Requests for immigration application forms Phone 
			 0845 0105200 Nationality telephone enquiries Phone 
			 0870 521 0224 UKBA Work Permits Literature Order Line Phone 
			 0845 6000914 Asylum Support Customer Contact Centre Phone 
			 0870 241 6523 Enquiries about the work of the UKBA Complaints Unit and advice to callers about how to complain Phone 
			 0845 602 1465 UKBA MPS HOT LINE FAX LINE Fax 
			 0845 601 1145 National Asylum Support FAX Line Fax 
			 0845 601 1143 National Asylum Support FAX LINE Fax 
			 0845 609 0395 UKBA MP's Hotline Phone 
			 0845 601 1150 National Asylum Support Service/MP's HOT LINE Phone 
			 0845 0105555 UK Visas (pre-recorded information line) Phone

Departmental Telephone Services

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-geographic telephone numbers are in use by  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies; what services can be accessed by calling each of them; and what revenue was received from them in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The following table outlines the non-geographic numbers currently in use by the Home Office and its agencies and the services that can be accessed by each. Information about the revenue generated by each of these lines is not held centrally and as such it is not possible to answer this aspect of the question within the time and cost limits of the PQ process.
	
		
			  Number  Purpose  Type 
			 0870 521 0410 Passport advice line Phone 
			 0870 240 8090 Passport advice line (Text Phone Service) Minicon 
			 0870 243 4477 Passport inquiries for High Street Partners Phone 
			 0870 243 1902 Passport Complaints Phone 
			 0845 121 0046 Authentication by Interview (ABI) Booking Line Phone 
			 0845 603 7788 GRO Certificate Services Phone 
			 0870 125 1256 Siemens Business Services Query Letters Phone 
			 0870 909 0778 Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure dispute line Phone 
			 0870 909 0844 Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure application line Phone 
			 0870 909 0223 Criminal Records Bureau Welsh Language Line Phone 
			 0870 909 0344 Criminal Records Bureau Minicon 
			 0870 909 0811 Criminal Records Bureau General Inquiries Phone 
			 0870 909 0822 Criminal Records Bureau Registration Information Line Phone 
			 0870 241 4680 Home Office's mailing house, Prolog Phone 
			 0870 241 4786 Home Office's mailing house, Prolog Fax 
			 0870 220 2000 TOGETHER (advice line for practitioners on tackling anti-social behaviour) Phone 
			 0870 336 9031 Contact Private Office to Jacqui Smith Fax 
			 0870 336 9032 Contact Private Office to Lord West Fax 
			 0870 336 9033 Contact Private Office to Vernon Coaker Fax 
			 0870 336 9034 Contact Private Office to Liam Byrne Fax 
			 0870 336 9035 Contact Private Office to Tony McNulty Fax 
			 0870 336 9036 Contact Private Office to Meg Hillier Fax 
			 0870 336 9048 Contact Parliamentary Team Fax 
			 0870 336 9045 Contact Ministers' Special Advisers Fax 
			 0870 336 9041 Contact Private Office Management Support Unit Fax 
			 0870 336 9037 Contact Permanent Secretary's Office Fax 
			 0845 010 6677 UKBA Employers' Helpline Phone 
			 0845 039 8002 PROSPECTS helpline Phone 
			 0845 601 2298 UKBA Evidence and Enquiry line Phone 
			 0870 240 3781 Immigration Enquiry Bureau (enforcement and removalsrecorded message only) Phone 
			 0845 602 1739 Enquiries about asylum support applications Phone 
			 0870 606 7766 Immigration Enquiry Bureau Phone 
			 0870 241 0645 Requests for immigration application forms Phone 
			 0845 010 5200 Nationality telephone inquiries Phone 
			 0870 521 0224 UKBA Work Permits Literature Order Line Phone 
			 0845 600 0914 Asylum Support Customer Contact Centre Phone 
			 0870 241 6523 Inquiries about the work of the UKBA Complaints Unit and advice to callers about how to complain Phone 
			 0845 602 1465 UKBA MP's hot line fax line Fax 
			 0845 601 1145 National Asylum Support fax line Fax 
			 0845 601 1143 National Asylum Support fax line Fax 
			 0845 609 0395 UKBA MP's hotline Phone 
			 0845 601 1150 National Asylum Support Service/MP's hotline Phone 
			 0845 010 5555 UKvisas (pre-recorded information line) Phone

Firearms

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) firearms,  (b) imitation firearms and  (c) knives were voluntarily surrendered to the police in each police force area in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not regularly collected centrally.
	During the firearms amnesty held in April 2003, 43,908 firearms and more than one million rounds of ammunition were surrendered. The breakdown by force area and type of firearms is in the following tables.
	A national knife amnesty was held from 24 May to 30 June 2006. The breakdown of the numbers of items handed in by police force area is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Firearms and ammunition handed in during the firearms amnesty 2003 
			 Prohibited  f irearms 
			  Police force  Total number of guns  Total number of rounds of ammunition  Fully automatic  Handguns  Rifles  Section 5 shotguns  Other sec 5 firearms  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 1,309 45,000 2 148 1 1 0 152 
			 Bedfordshire 298 5,552 0 48 1 6 0 55 
			 Cambridgeshire 579 9,639 0 69 2 0 2 73 
			 Cheshire 683 10,627 1 137 0 3 2 143 
			 Cleveland 212 3,979 0 23 1 1 3 28 
			 Cumbria 572 10,503 0 87 0 2 0 89 
			 Derbyshire 732 4,715 1 69 1 7 0 78 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,233 38,110 1 378 20 2 35 436 
			 Dorset 698 18,826 0 174 8 28 4 214 
			 Durham 367 7,112 0 39 0 0 0 39 
			 Essex 1,367 20,973 0 170 0 6 2 178 
			 Gloucestershire 272 1,450 0 56 0 0 1 57 
			 Greater Manchester 2,662 43,317 3 199 3 2 3 210 
			 Hampshire 1,540 42,795 2 183 2 5 3 195 
			 Hertfordshire 680 14,504 0 133 18 20 4 175 
			 Humberside 622 19,802 3 72 3 5 3 86 
			 Kent 1,287 62,142 0 217 3 12 2 234 
			 Lancashire 1,038 15,843 0 117 12 6 3 138 
			 Leicestershire 792 245 1 66 0 1 0 68 
			 Lincolnshire 1,019 14,136 0 62 2 0 0 64 
			 London, City of 14 217 0 3 0 1 1 5 
			 Merseyside 924 15,869 0 105 0 1 1 107 
			 Metropolitan Police 3,189 75,606 9 606 14 39 85 753 
			 Norfolk 965 13,301 0 106 0 2 1 109 
			 Northampton 523 12,798 0 63 0 4 3 70 
			 Northumbria 969 16,775 0 94 2 8 1 105 
			 North Yorkshire 617 6,557 0 74 0 2 3 79 
			 Nottingham 908 34,712 1 82 1 1 0 85 
			 South Yorkshire 407 4,567 1 74 3 1 3 82 
			 Staffordshire 823 49,271 2 99 3 7 3 114 
			 Suffolk 1,219 23,801 2 141 0 6 4 153 
			 Surrey 1,157 31,806 6 174 0 5 15 200 
			 Sussex 1,997 32,702 0 273 1 6 6 286 
			 Thames Valley 1,189 23,877 1 241 11 38 5 296 
			 Warwickshire 453 8,563 1 50 4 0 2 57 
			 West Mercia 1,029 28,072 20 101 0 2 9 132 
			 West Midlands 1,265 53,190 1 168 6 1 3 179 
			 West Yorkshire 635 11,493 1 128 0 5 0 134 
			 Wiltshire 574 7,516 1 39 1 0 0 41 
			 Total England 37,819 839,963 60 5,068 123 236 212 5,699 
			  
			 Dyfed-Powys 847 23,526 2 101 9 9 9 130 
			 Gwent 332 12,584 1 35 8 46 1 91 
			 North Wales 592 5,073 1 69 0 1 0 71 
			 South Wales 917 14,128 2 199 12 44 1 258 
			 Total Wales 2,688 55,311 6 404 29 100 11 550 
			  
			 Total England and Wales 40,507 895,274 66 5,472 152 336 223 6,249 
			  
			 Central Scotland 175 1,710 0 7 0 0 0 7 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 220 71,910 0 14 0 0 0 14 
			 Fife 343 6,478 1 28 0 4 0 33 
			 Grampian 540 12,529 0 8 0 0 0 8 
			 Lothian and Borders 509 11,775 1 54 0 1 0 56 
			 Northern 392 13,796 0 42 0 0 1 43 
			 Strathclyde 786 19,635 1 87 3 2 2 95 
			 Tayside 428 6,083 0 22 0 1 0 23 
			 Total Scotland 3,393 143,916 3 262 3 8 3 279 
			  
			 British Transport Police 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 MOD Police 6 168 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Total Other 8 168 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			  
			 Total Great Britain 43,908 1,039,358 69 5,734 155 344 227 6,529 
		
	
	
		
			 Non-prohibited guns 
			  Police force  Total number of guns  Total number of rounds of ammunition  Rifles  Imitations  Air guns  Shot guns  Other  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 1,309 45,000 80 207 501 363 6 1,157 
			 Bedfordshire 298 5,552 14 56 98 63 12 243 
			 Cambridgeshire 579 9,639 45 145 134 177 5 506 
			 Cheshire 683 10,627 18 118 250 128 26 540 
			 Cleveland 212 3,979 5 40 109 30 0 184 
			 Cumbria 572 10,503 46 86 191 154 6 483 
			 Derbyshire 732 4,715 27 184 234 189 20 654 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,233 38,110 103 526 654 483 31 1,797 
			 Dorset 698 18,826 28 50 233 125 48 484 
			 Durham 367 7,112 16 32 193 86 1 328 
			 Essex 1,367 20,973 102 264 400 407 16 1,189 
			 Gloucestershire 272 1,450 10 34 73 97 1 215 
			 Greater Manchester 2,662 43,317 81 1,503 569 264 35 2,452 
			 Hampshire 1,540 42,795 71 380 471 383 40 1,345 
			 Hertfordshire 680 14,504 21 113 201 151 19 505 
			 Humberside 622 19,802 38 115 241 132 10 536 
			 Kent 1,287 62,142 61 250 379 346 17 1,053 
			 Lancashire 1,038 15,843 85 222 316 259 18 900 
			 Leicestershire 792 245 35 153 277 237 22 724 
			 Lincolnshire 1,019 14,136 40 100 341 340 134 955 
			 London, City of 14 217 0 3 2 4 0 9 
			 Merseyside 924 15,869 27 252 421 100 17 817 
			 Metropolitan Police 3,189 75,606 206 776 962 312 180 2,436 
			 Norfolk 965 13,301 49 153 221 418 15 856 
			 Northampton 523 12,798 17 128 144 160 4 453 
			 Northumbria 969 16,775 34 147 541 118 24 864 
			 North Yorkshire 617 6,557 30 119 168 206 15 538 
			 Nottingham 908 34,712 45 236 345 190 7 823 
			 South Yorkshire 407 4,567 18 89 105 92 21 325 
			 Staffordshire 823 49,271 32 221 264 191 1 709 
			 Suffolk 1,219 23,801 49 259 294 454 10 1,066 
			 Surrey 1,157 31,806 60 267 365 239 26 957 
			 Sussex 1,997 32,702 76 445 675 495 20 1,711 
			 Thames Valley 1,189 23,877 62 165 330 301 35 893 
			 Warwickshire 453 8,563 23 90 189 83 11 396 
			 West Mercia 1,029 28,072 53 157 282 370 35 897 
			 West Midlands 1,265 53,190 38 412 475 145 16 1,086 
			 West Yorkshire 635 11,493 32 124 211 97 37 501 
			 Wiltshire 574 7,516 44 82 225 166 16 533 
			 Total England 37,819 839,963 1,821 8,703 12,084 8,555 957 32,120 
			  
			 Dyfed-Powys 847 23,526 66 32 149 450 20 717 
			 Gwent 332 12,584 13 51 90 68 19 241 
			 North Wales 592 5,073 21 121 168 199 12 521 
			 South Wales 917 14,128 39 112 242 253 13 659 
			 Total Wales 2,688 55,311 139 316 649 970 64 2,138 
			  
			 Total England and Wales 40,507 895,274 1,960 9,019 12,733 9,525 1,021 34,258 
			  
			 Central Scotland 175 1,710 9 16 74 40 29 168 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 220 71,910 9 19 82 83 13 206 
			 Fife 343 6,478 17 53 154 63 23 310 
			 Grampian 540 12,529 46 97 158 213 18 532 
			 Lothian and Borders 509 11,775 43 68 204 129 9 453 
			 Northern 392 13,796 76 17 95 151 10 349 
			 Strathclyde 786 19,635 59 91 343 175 23 691 
			 Tayside 428 6,083 39 99 129 132 6 405 
			 Total Scotland 3,393 143,916 298 460 1,239 986 131 3,114 
			  
			 British Transport Police 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 
			 MOD Police 6 168 1 1 0 2 1 5 
			 Total Other 8 168 1 1 2 2 1 7 
			  
			 Total Great Britain 43,908 1,039,358 2,259 9,480 13,974 10,513 1,153 37,379 
		
	
	
		
			 Ammunition 
			  Police force  Total number of guns  Total number of rounds of ammunition  Prohibited  Bulleted  Shot gun  Other  Other weapons 
			 Avon and Somerset 1,309 45,000 0 16,000 25,000 4,000 46 
			 Bedfordshire 298 5,552 44 2,154 1,787 1,567 97 
			 Cambridgeshire 579 9,639 0 6,119 2,140 1,380 28 
			 Cheshire 683 10,627 13 7,470 1,085 2,059 30 
			 Cleveland 212 3,979 413 1,804 297 1,465 18 
			 Cumbria 572 10,503 6 5,387 1,224 3,886 46 
			 Derbyshire 732 4,715 0 1,933 2,122 660 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,233 38,110 2,666 14,473 4,401 16,570 81 
			 Dorset 698 18,826 1,362 5,027 3,848 8,589 48 
			 Durham 367 7,112 123 5,427 842 720 187 
			 Essex 1,367 20,973 7 6,713 3,550 10,703 106 
			 Gloucestershire 272 1,450 0 500 850 100 3 
			 Greater Manchester 2,662 43,317 402 19,853 6,498 16,564 54 
			 Hampshire 1,540 42,795 2,200 19,195 7,967 13,433 507 
			 Hertfordshire 680 14,504 1,705 7,553 1,770 3,476 110 
			 Humberside 622 19,802 542 9,506 1,848 7,906 121 
			 Kent 1,287 62,142 249 14,232 4,738 42,923 105 
			 Lancashire 1,038 15,843 34 9,786 2,738 3,285 85 
			 Leicestershire 792 245 1 102 67 75 59 
			 Lincolnshire 1,019 14,136 18 11,357 1,904 857 1,027 
			 London, City of 14 217 0 20 28 169 0 
			 Merseyside 924 15,869 4 6,341 1,583 7,941 130 
			 Metropolitan Police 3,189 75,606 6,571 25,097 10,745 33,193 680 
			 Norfolk 965 13,301 2 10,713 2,345 241 45 
			 Northampton 523 12,798 2 7,257 3,987 1,552 279 
			 Northumbria 969 16,775 4 10,227 2,267 4,277 105 
			 North Yorkshire 617 6,557 1.209 3,849 1,251 248 18 
			 Nottingham 908 34,712 1,084 8,861 3,753 21,014 0 
			 South Yorkshire 407 4,567 0 2,616 929 1,022 56 
			 Staffordshire 823 49,271 35 17,918 4,956 26,362 50 
			 Suffolk 1,219 23,801 1.145 10,857 3,122 8,677 101 
			 Surrey 1,157 31,806 1 19,173 8,034 4,598 1,560 
			 Sussex 1,997 32,702 0 22,564 7,172 2,966 33 
			 Thames Valley 1,189 23,877 2,041 8,393 3,122 10,321 135 
			 Warwickshire 453 8,563 609 3,706 862 3,386 22 
			 West Mercia 1,029 28,072 300 15,558 4,655 7,559 166 
			 West Midlands 1,265 53,190 735 40,158 4,452 7,845 50 
			 West Yorkshire 635 11,493 0 7,532 581 3,380 22 
			 Wiltshire 574 7,516 62 3,433 1,615 2,406 16 
			 Total England 37,819 839,963 23,589 388,864 140,135 287,375 6,226 
			 
			 Dyfed-Powys 847 23,526 1,941 11,103 6,088 4,394 35 
			 Gwent 332 12,584 9 4,347 5,705 2,523 18 
			 North Wales 592 5,073 0 3,731 1,018 324 41 
			 South Wales 917 14,128 280 5,246 4,148 4,454 89 
			 Total Wales 2,688 55,311 2,230 24,427 16,959 11,695 183 
			 
			 Total England and Wales 40,507 895,274 25,819 413,291 157,094 299,070 6,409 
			 
			 Central Scotland 175 1,710 79 955 638 38 87 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 220 71,910 0 2,379 1,017 68,514 114 
			 Fife 343 6,478 1,004 3,586 1,075 813 94 
			 Grampian 540 12,529 91 10,267 1,261 910 128 
			 Lothian and Borders 509 11,775 0 9.238 1,514 1,023 41 
			 Northern 392 13,796 4,786 5,699 3,197 114 75 
			 Strathclyde 786 19,635 1,233 8,307 3,200 6,895 29 
			 Tayside 428 6,083 34 3,150 2,156 743 116 
			 Total Scotland 3,393 143,916 7,227 43,581 14,058 79,050 684 
			 
			 British Transport Police 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 MOD Police 6 168 0 155 0 13 0 
			 Total Other 8 168 0 155 0 13 0 
			 
			 Total Great Britain 43,908 1,039,358 33,046 457,027 171,152 378,133 7,093 
		
	
	
		
			  Knife amnestytotal items surrendered 24 May to 30 June 2006 
			  Force  Domestic  Non Domestic  Weapons  Of interest  Total 
			 Avon Somerset 1,510 634 129 69 2,342 
			 Bedfordshire 503 172 45 42 762 
			 Cambridgshire 982 188 465 0 1,635 
			 Cheshire 1,241 457 287 55 2,040 
			 City of London 38 0 4 18 60 
			 Cleveland 729 224 159 41 1,153 
			 Cumbria 1,082 146 46 27 1,301 
			 Derbyshire 2,257 91 623 24 2,995 
			 Dorset 1,029 275 186 8 1,498 
			 Durham 593 326 124 19 1,062 
			 Dyfed Powys 470 188 121 14 793 
			 Devon Cornwall 2,626 601 375 150 3,752 
			 Essex 1,517 446 209 51 2,223 
			 Gloucestershire 702 309 50 0 1,061 
			 GMP 1,172 403 276 14 1,865 
			 Gwent 1,263 419 187 67 1,936 
			 Hampshire 3,209 841 529 57 4,636 
			 Herts 1,659 493 20 22 2,194 
			 Humberside 877 152 261 23 1,313 
			 Kent 2,603 704 421 0 3,807 
			 Lancashire 948 389 187 1 1,525 
			 Leicestershire 950 158 62 0 1,170 
			 Lincs 731 422 260 35 1,448 
			 Merseyside 1,142 630 33 0 1,888 
			 Met 0 0 0 0 9,145 
			 Norfolk(1) (383) (104) (18) (5) 1,723 
			 North Wales 1,152 392 177 10 1,731 
			 North Yorkshire 940 285 346 53 1,624 
			 North Hants 1,312 174 140 0 1,626 
			 Northumbria 1,576 667 306 57 2,606 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,086 419 127 17 1,649 
			 South Wales 1,351 505 143 23 2,022 
			 South Yorks 1,143 68 379 42 1,631 
			 Staffordshire 1,200 524 222 64 2,010 
			 Suffolk 975 298 171 0 1,444 
			 Surrey 959 252 89 11 1,311 
			 Sussex 2,479 936 253 89 3,757 
			 Thames Valley 2,475 1,235 620 0 4,330 
			 Warwickshire 494 179 147 36 856 
			 West Mercia 1,523 440 164 0 2,127 
			 West Midlands 1,979 298 510 451 3,238 
			 West Yorkshire 851 332 175 17 1,375 
			 Wiltshire 894 177 120 9 1,200 
			 Total(2) 52,222 16,595 9,148 1,658 89,864 
			 (1) Breakdown figures for Norfolk relate to items surrendered in first week only. (2) Breakdown figures do not equal final total due to (1).  Note: MRS has supplied a total only figure.

Foreign Workers: Graduates

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many participants of each nationality in the international graduate scheme have been permitted to switch to  (a) work permit employment,  (b) the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme,  (c) the business person category and  (d) the innovators category.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

Human Trafficking

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place at St. Pancras station to intercept human traffickers and their victims; and how many traffickers and victims have been apprehended since the Eurostar service to that station started.

Vernon Coaker: h olding answer 2 June 2008
	 On 14 November 2007 Eurostar's London terminus moved from Waterloo to St. Pancras and the decision was made to examine arriving passengers at our juxtaposed controls in France and Belgium.
	Juxtaposed UK border controls have been in place at Paris, Lille and Calais Frethun since June 2001 and at Brussels since October 2004. They are staffed by UK Border Agency staff. If a passenger has qualified for entry to the UK at one of the juxtaposed controls, but has aroused suspicion for other reasons, they may be referred to the appropriate UK agency and can be intercepted by British Transport Police at St. Pancras.
	Between December 2007 and May 2008, UKBA staff at the juxtaposed Eurostar ports have referred 25 cases to the European Operations' Intelligence Team for further investigation.
	UKBA staff at juxtaposed ports work closely with the UK, French and Belgium police to ensure that we do the maximum possible to disrupt human trafficking and to provide appropriate support to the victims, ensuring they are properly cared for.

Human Trafficking: Children

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2008,  Official Report, column 72W, on human trafficking: children, if she will place in the Library a copy of the recent Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre study on Vietnamese juveniles.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre study into Vietnamese juveniles arrested in cannabis factories in 2007 has not yet been published. When it is published, a copy will be placed in the Library.

Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if she will make it her policy to use gross domestic product per capita as the principal measurement when considering the economic effects of migration in developing policy;
	(2)  if she will commission or evaluate research on the effect of immigration on the gross domestic product per capita of the resident host population in the UK;
	(3)  pursuant to the oral evidence given by the Minister of State for Immigration to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Select Committee in its inquiry into the Economic Impact of Immigration, if she will commission quantitative research into the effect of immigration on gross domestic product per capita.

Liam Byrne: The issue of the links between migration and GDP and GDP per head was raised by the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs in its report, The Economic Impact of Immigration (Session 2007-08 HL Paper 82). The Government are considering the recommendations made by the Committee and will provide a formal response shortly. I shall arrange for copies of the response to be placed in the Library of both Houses and for a copy to be sent to the hon. Gentleman.

Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legacy immigration cases  (a) were solved,  (b) were closed for administrative or other reasons,  (c) were no longer being actively investigated or worked on,  (d) were resolved resulting in a deportation order,  (e) resulted in a deportation being carried out and  (f) resulted in a decision allowing the applicant to remain in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: In her letter of 17 December 2007 to the Home Affairs Select Committee, Lin Homer, chief executive of the UK Border Agency stated that of the 52,000 older asylum cases that had been concluded, 19,000 had led to grants of leave, 16,000 had led to removals and 17,000 had been closed due to previously erroneous or duplicate records. This update records the position from the start of the Case Resolution Directorate work to clear the legacy from July 2006 up to the end of November 2007. Lin Homer is due to update the Home Affairs Select Committee on the work to clear the backlog next month.

Licensed Premises: Kent

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many  (a) off licences and  (b) other establishments with a licence to sell alcohol in Kent have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to under-age drinkers in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many licensees in Kent have been prosecuted for serving under-age drinkers in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for selling alcohol to those under 18 years old in Kent police force area from 2003 to 2006 can be viewed in the following table. It is not possible to identify from the data whether these sales were from on or off licensed premises.
	The offence of sale of alcohol to a person under 18 can also attract a penalty notice for disorder (PND); there were no PNDs issued for the offence in Kent police force area in 2004, 10 PNDs issued in 2005 and five in 2006.
	
		
			  The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for certain alcohol related offences in Kent police force area for the years 2003 to 2006( 1,2,3) 
			   Proceeded against 
			  Offence description  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Holder of occasional permission or agent knowingly selling intoxicating liquor to person under 18 3 9 15 14 2 
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18 0 3 0 0 0 
			 Total 3 12 15 14 2 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Holder of occasional permission or agent knowingly selling intoxicating liquor to person under 18 Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 S.4(l)(a), Licensing Act S.169A  169B, as added by Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 S.I Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18 Licensing Act 1964 Sec 181 A(l) as added by Licensing Act 1988 Sec 17. From these two offences we cannot separately identify on and off premises consumption although both are covered by the statutes. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Court proceedings data held by RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform Ministry of Justice

Offensive Weapons

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of knife crime were reported in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: It is not possible to identify those offences which are knife-related from the data centrally collected on overall recorded crime. However, since April 2007, police forces have been providing separate aggregate data on serious violence involving knives. Home Office statisticians will assess the quality of these data and it is planned that figures for 2007-08 will be published in the main crime bulletin in July 2008. Since the data are collected at police force area level, it will not be possible to show the number of incidents at constituency or borough level.
	Statistics for Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the respective Secretaries of State.

Offensive Weapons

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of knife crime offences in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside and  (c) the North East in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the number of persons found guilty at all courts for the illegal possession of knives in a public place and on school premises, in the North East region of England and Wales from 1997-2006, are provided in the following table. Information on convictions in  (a) Jarrow constituency and  (b) South Tyneside cannot be provided as the data held by the Ministry of Justice are not held at that level of detail.
	The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	The data provided do not cover persons found guilty of 'other' crimes involving the use of a knife, for example assault or threatening behaviour. Court data held by the Ministry of Justice do not include the circumstances behind each case; therefore it is not possible to identify all offences involving knives.
	
		
			  Number of persons found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the illegal possession of knives in public( 1) , North East region 1997-2006( 2, 3) 
			   Found guilty 
			 1997 134 
			 1998 162 
			 1999 180 
			 2000 185 
			 2001 230 
			 2002 316 
			 2003 317 
			 2004 360 
			 2005 376 
			 2006 384 
			 (1) Includes the offences of having an article with a blade or point on school premises under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 S 139 and having an article with a blade or point in a public place under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 S 139a. (2) These data are on the principal offence basis. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Offensive Weapons

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) killed and  (b) injured in incidents of knife crime in (i) Jarrow constituency and (ii) South Tyneside in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The information available centrally relates to homicides by sharp instrument recorded each year between 1997-98 and 2006-07. As figures are not collected below police force area level, data relating to Northumbria police are given in the following table. Injuries data are not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Homicides currently recorded( 1)  where apparent method of killing is sharp instrument( 2) : Northumbria police force area, 1997-98 to 2006-07( 3) 
			  Year offence initially recorded as homicide( 4)  Number 
			 1997-98 11 
			 1998-99 5 
			 1999-2000 9 
			 2000-01 5 
			 2001-02 4 
			 2002-03 8 
			 2003-04 8 
			 2004-05 6 
			 2005-06 7 
			 2006-07 10 
			 (1) As at 12 November 2007; figures are revised as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Includes knives as well as other sharp instruments. (3) Data for 2007-08 are scheduled to be published in January 2009. (4) Offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made.

Racially Aggravated Offences

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were the victim of crimes recorded as racially motivated in England in each of the last three years, broken down by region.

Vernon Coaker: The available statistics relate to racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded by the police and are given in the following table. It is not possible to separately identify those of a racial nature from those of a religious nature.
	
		
			  Racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded by the police 
			  Number of offences 
			  Region  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Eastern 2,907 3,025 3,204 
			 East Midlands 2,563 2,722 2,827 
			 London 9,492 8,844 8,309 
			 North East 1,328 1,620 1,692 
			 North West 6,071 6,982 7,114 
			 South East 3,418 4,601 5,323 
			 South West 2,814 2,901 3,008 
			 West Midlands 3,890 4,696 5,101 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 3,232 4,552 4,617 
			 TotalEngland 35,715 39,943 41,195

Rape

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the proportion of victims of rape who know their attacker.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office Statistical Bulletin 03/08, published on 31 January 2008, which is available at
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb0308.pdf
	indicates that 88 per cent of the most recent serious sexual assaults committed against the victims who responded to the British Crime Survey (BS) Interpersonal Violence Module were committed by someone known to the victim, either as a partner, friend, relative or acquainted in another way such as a colleague from school, work or university.

Security Guards: Licensing

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what options she has considered to reduce the waiting time for a Security Industry Authority licence renewal; and what steps she has taken to protect those security industry employees whose jobs are jeopardised by the length of time taken for licence renewal.

Vernon Coaker: This is an operational matter for the Security Industry Authority (SIA). They are working to restore performance to acceptable levels as quickly as possible in order to reduce delays and the resulting impact on applicants. I have met with the SIA's chief executive, and receive regular reports from the SIA, in order to ensure that action is being taken to address performance issues.

Security Industry Authority

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often she receives reports from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) in relation to its  (a) activity and  (b) performance; how many individuals and companies were licensed by the SIA for the immobilisation, restriction and removal of vehicles in (i) Wansbeck constituency, (ii) Northumberland and (iii) the UK in each year since 2003; how many complaints were received about such individuals and companies; and how many of these were upheld and resulted in licences being suspended or withdrawn. [Official Report, 12 June 2008, Vol. 477, c. 3MC.]

Vernon Coaker: In line with the arrangements that exist with all non-departmental public bodies, the Department receives regular updates on performance and activities. The SIA also keeps its stakeholders updated through, for example, its website.
	The SIA issues licences to individual wheel clampers, and not to companies. SIA licence numbers are not recorded at constituency or county level. Since 2003, the SIA has issued the following numbers of vehicle immobilisation licences in each year:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003 40 
			 2004 536 
			 2005 61,298 
			 2006 71,387 
			 2007 81,013 
		
	
	The number of individuals who held valid vehicle immobilisation licences as at 19 May 2008 was 1,207.
	Information about the number of complaints made about vehicle immobilisers is not available. In general, however, most complaints received by the SIA about vehicle immobilisation concern issues such as signage, fees and other areas which are outside the control of the SIA. All other complaints need police substantiation and are dealt with confidentially by the SIA's intelligence section.
	To date a total of 10 vehicle immobilisation licences have been revoked. It is not possible to say how many of these were revoked as a direct consequence of complaints received from members of the public.

Security Industry Authority: Grayling Political Strategy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payments the Security Industry Authority made to Grayling Political Strategy in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Vernon Coaker: I am informed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) that they have made payments to three branches of the Grayling company as follows:
	(a) to Grayling Public Affairs for general public affairs work;
	(b) to Grayling Public Relations to promote the licensing of security guards in England and Wales; and,
	(c) to Grayling Scotland to promote the licensing of security guards in Scotland.
	The total amounts over the past five years are as follows:
	
		
			
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 126,093.54 
			 2006-07 196,662.81 
			 2007-08 54,357.98 
			 Total 377,114.33

Work Permits: Health Professions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which 20 non-EU nationalities received the most work permits for  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses in 2007.

Liam Byrne: The following table shows the 20 nationalities outside the EU, by volume, with the highest number of approved work permit applications from nurses and doctors in the period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007. Figures are rounded to nearest five.
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	
		
			  Work permit applications approved between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2007 
			   Applications 
			  Doctor  
			 India 220 
			 South Africa 135 
			 China, peoples Republic of 135 
			 Pakistan 75 
			 Sri Lanka 35 
			 Australia 35 
			 Egypt 35 
			 Bangladesh 20 
			 Nigeria 20 
			 Syrian Arab Republic 20 
			 Myanmar 15 
			 Sudan 15 
			 Malaysia 15 
			 Iraq 10 
			 United States of America 10 
			 Iran 10 
			 Romania 5 
			 Singapore 5 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 5 
			 Ghana 5 
			 Total 910 
			   
			  Nurse  
			 India 3,060 
			 Philippines 1,580 
			 Zimbabwe 1,050 
			 South Africa 540 
			 Nigeria 385 
			 Ghana 195 
			 Nepal 180 
			 Pakistan 170 
			 Australia 155 
			 Mauritius 145 
			 Zambia 135 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 95 
			 Kenya 90 
			 Guyana 85 
			 Jamaica 80 
			 China, Peoples Republic of 75 
			 New Zealand 55 
			 Sri Lanka 35 
			 Malawi 35 
			 Botswana 35 
			 Total 8,520 
			  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

HEALTH

Arthritis

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished episodes of care there were for patients resident in Southend with a  (a) primary and  (b) secondary diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, broken down by (i) age group and (ii) sex in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. Information is available at primary care trust (PCT) level. The following table shows the information available for the years 1997-98 to 2005-06 for Southend-on-Sea PCT. This identifies patients who resided within Southend-on-Sea and were in hospital with a primary and/or secondary diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. On 1 October 2006, Southend-on-Sea PCT merged with Castle Point and Rochford PCT to create South East Essex PCT. This is reflected in the data provided in the table for 2006-07.
	
		
			  Number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) for a primary and/or secondary diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis for PCTs covering Southend-on-Sea, broken down by age and sex for the years 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			Age and sex breakdown 
			0-44  45-64  65-74  75-120 
			   Diagnosis type  Female  Male  Female  Male  Female  Male  Female  Male 
			 2006-07 Primary 46 33 92 61 100 25 30 20 
			  Primary and secondary 91 38 206 124 177 111 281 95 
			   
			 2005-06 Primary 13 16 32 * 29 16 17 * 
			  Primary and secondary 27 24 78 51 70 53 163 46 
			   
			 2004-05 Primary 12 * 45 16 31 * 19 * 
			  Primary and secondary 28 6 84 30 82 39 156 34 
			   
			 2003-04 Primary 14 * 49 17 27 6 16 * 
			  Primary and secondary 24 * 98 38 48 * 90 25 
			   
			 2002-03 Primary * * 19 * 8 * 6 0 
			  Primary and secondary 6 * 22 15 10 * 11 0 
			   
			 2001-02 Primary * * 6 * * * * 0 
			  Primary and secondary * * 9 * 7 8 9 * 
			   
			 2000-01 Primary * * 6 * * * * * 
			  Primary and secondary * * 9 7 6 10 8 * 
			   
			 1999-2000 Primary * * 11 * * * * 0 
			  Primary and secondary * * 12 8 6 * 7 6 
			   
			 1998-99 Primary * 0 9 * 6 * 7 0 
			  Primary and secondary * * 24 16 28 21 48 11 
			   
			 1997-98 Primary * * 21 7 10 * 12 * 
			  Primary and secondary 11 * 54 * 68 25 65 25 
			  Notes:  1. HES includes national health service hospitals in England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by the NHS in England.  2. Data from 1997-98 to 2005-06 are for Southend-on-Sea PCT. The 2006-07 data reflect the merger of Southend-on-Sea PCT with Castle Point and Rochford PCT on 1 October 2006 to create South East Essex PCT, explaining the increase in FCEs. Patients may have been treated outside Southend-on-Sea.  3.  Data Quality  HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  4.  Assessing growth through time  HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the NHS, there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  5.  Diagnosis  The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital. As well as the primary diagnosis, there are up to 13 (six prior to 2002-03) secondary diagnosis fields in HES that show other diagnoses relevant to the episode of care.  6.  FCEs  A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  7.  Ungrossed Data  Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  8.  Low Numbers  For reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and five have been suppressed and replaced with '*' (an asterisk). Where it was possible to identify numbers from the total due to a single suppressed number in a row or column, an additional smallest number has been suppressed in order to protect patient confidentiality.  9.  Clinical Codes  Diagnosis codes for the following conditions were used:  Felty's syndrome;  Rheumatoid lung disease;  Rheumatoid vasculitis;  Rheumatoid arthritis with involvement of other organs and systems;  Other seropositive Rheumatoid arthritis;  Seropositive Rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified;  Seronegative Rheumatoid arthritis;  Adult-onset stills disease;  Rheumatoid bursitis;  Rheumatoid nodule;  Inflammatory polyarthropathy;  Other specified Rheumatoid arthritis;  Rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified;  Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis; and  Ankylosing Spondylitis.  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the Information Centre for health and social care.

Autism

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will conduct an investigation into the potential effects of ultrasonic dispersal devices on people with autism.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	At the present time, the Government do not have any plans to conduct an investigation into the potential effects of dispersal devices on people with autism.

Cancer: East of England

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) head and neck cancer referrals there were to and  (b) head and neck cancer procedures were carried out at (i) the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and (ii) Ipswich Hospital, (iii) Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, (iv) Colchester Hospital and (v) Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge; and what methodology his Department uses to compile such data.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. Information is held on the number of urgent referrals for suspected head and neck cancers seen by national health service trusts. The most recent information that is available is for quarter three of the 2007-08 financial year.
	The number of urgent referrals for suspected head and neck cancers seen at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in quarter three of the 2007-08 financial year are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of urgent referrals for suspected head and neck cancers seen during quarter three of 2007-08 
			 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust 177 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 99 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust(1) 64 
			 Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust(2, 3) 95 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust(4) 120 
			 (1) Incorporating the Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford. (2) Incorporating Colchester hospital. (3) Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust became Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust on 1 May 2008. (4) Incorporating Addenbrooke's hospital, Cambridge.  Source: Cancer Waiting Time Statistics Quarter three 2007-08 
		
	
	Further information on the number of urgent referrals for suspected head and neck cancers is available on the Department's website at:
	www.performance.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits/
	Information on the numbers of procedures that take place at NHS trusts are compiled from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). HES are generated from data submitted by providers of NHS care in England. Healthcare providers collect administrative and clinical information which is then submitted to the Secondary Uses Service (SUS) and saved in a database. At prearranged times during the financial year, SUS takes an extract from its database and submits it to HES where the information is validated before it is released.
	The term head and neck cancer' includes any malignant neoplasm that affects any site or structure on or within the head or neck. Information is held on the numbers of patients who underwent a procedure whose primary diagnosis was a malignant neoplasm of a site or structure on or within the head and neck, however within the data it is not possible to distinguish between a procedure specifically related to the treatment of the cancer and one that is incidental to its treatment.
	The number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where the primary diagnosis is 'head and neck cancer' and there is a mention of any procedure in the primary or secondary procedure fields for Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the 2006-07 financial year are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Total finished consultant episodes( 1)  where the primary diagnosis( 2)  is 'head and neck cancer'( 3)  and there is a mention of any procedure( 4)  in the primary or secondary procedure fields 
			 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 517 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 214 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust(5) 101 
			 Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust(6, 7) 117 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust(8) 415 
			  Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed). (1) FCEs A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year. (2) The primary diagnosis is the first diagnosis field in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital. (3) The diagnosis classifications used to calculate the total number of head and neck cancer patients undergoing a procedure are as follows: malignant neoplasms of lip; malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of tongue; malignant neoplasm of gum; malignant neoplasm of floor of mouth; malignant neoplasm of palate; malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of mouth; malignant neoplasm of parotid gland; malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified major salivary glands; malignant neoplasm of tonsil; malignant neoplasm of oropharynx; malignant neoplasm of nasopharynx; malignant neoplasm of pyriform sinus; malignant neoplasm of hypopharynx; malignant neoplasm of accessory sinuses; malignant neoplasm of larynx; malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland; malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the lip, oral cavity and pharynx: Pharynx, unspecified;  malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the lip, oral cavity and pharynx: Waldeyer's ring; malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the lip, oral cavity and pharynx: Overlapping lesion of lip, oral cavity and pharynx; and secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes: Lymph nodes of head, face and neck. (4) These figures represent a count of all finished consultant episodes where the procedure was mentioned in any of the 12 operation fields in a HES record. A record is only included once in each count, even if an operation is mentioned in more than one operation field of the record. (5) Incorporating the Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford. (6) Incorporating Colchester Hospital. (7) Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust became Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust on 1 May 2008. (8) Incorporating Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.  Note: Data Quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Source: HES, The NH Information Centre for health and social care.

Cancer: Urinary System

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South-West Norfolk (Christopher Fraser) of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1001-2W, on cancer: urinary system, in what ways the Kent Cancer Network's Improving Outcomes Guidance implementation plan is not compliant; and when he expects the Kent Cancer Network to have submitted a compliant implementation plan.

Ann Keen: Kent and Medway Cancer Network will develop a compliant urological improving outcomes guidance plan by the end of June 2008 with clear implementation dates for when the service will be delivered.

Childbirth

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many babies were born before reaching 24 weeks gestation in each year since 2000; and how many of those survived beyond six months;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of babies born at  (a) 21 weeks,  (b) 22 weeks and  (c) 23 weeks gestation survived beyond six months in each year since 2000; and what percentage of these babies were born at (i) level two and (ii) level three hospitals.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 25 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 13-14W.

Dehydration

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged  (a) three to nine,  (b) 10 to 19,  (c) 20 to 29,  (d) 30 to 39,  (e) 40 to 49,  (f) 50 to 59 and  (e) 60 years and over, were hospitalised with dehydration in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) region, (ii) month and (iii) sex.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Dental Services: Fees and Charges

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of  (a) the annual cost to the Exchequer of abolishing all charges for dental checks and  (b) the number of people who paid a charge for such checks wholly or in part in the last year for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: There is no separate charge for a dental examination. The present three tier system of national health service dental charges sets charges according to the overall content of each course of treatment. The current band one charge of 16.20 applies to any course of treatment that consists of diagnostic and preventative care only, which can include an examination, any necessary x-rays, a scale and polish, and oral health advice. In 2006-07 a total of 147.9 million was collected in dental charges for band one courses of treatment delivered to charge paying patients.
	The numbers of NHS courses of treatment delivered to charge payers in England in 2006-07, by treatment band, are available in Table seven of the NHS Dental Statistics for England 2006-07 report. The report, published by the Information Centre for health and social care on 23 August 2007, is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607.
	The number of courses of treatment does not equate to the number of people receiving treatment, as some patients will receive more than one course of treatment in a year.

Dental Services: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many new NHS dental practices have opened in each ward of Hemsworth constituency in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many NHS dentists in Hemsworth constituency have  (a) stopped accepting new NHS patients and  (b) decided only to treat patients on a private basis in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many people in Hemsworth constituency are on the waiting list for an NHS place at a local dental practice.

Ann Keen: This information is not centrally available.
	Under the contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with a national health service dentist to receive NHS care.
	It is for local NHS organisations to determine how best to manage patients seeking NHS dental services.

Dental Services: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to make available more NHS dental places in Hemsworth constituency.

Ann Keen: The dental reforms implemented in 2006 gave primary care trusts (PCTs), for the first time, the responsibility for providing or commissioning dental services in their area. It is for PCTs, including Wakefield PCT, to assess local needs, review current service provision and develop services to meet local needs.
	Increasing the number of patients seen within national health service dental services is also now a formal priority in 'The Operating Framework. For the NHS in England 2008-09'. There was a substantial 11 per cent. uplift in overall allocations to PCTs from 1 April 2008 to take account of this. Copies of the framework are available in the Library.

Dental Services: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average distance travelled to a dental practice is for those registered with an NHS dentist in Hemsworth constituency.

Ann Keen: It is for primary care trusts to plan the location of their dental services to best meet the needs of their population.
	Validated information on the distance travelled by patients to receive national health service dental treatment can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Under the new contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care.

Dental Services: Manpower

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent qualified dentists were working in the NHS in each  (a) strategic health authority and  (b) primary care trust at the latest date for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The number of dentists on open national health service contracts in England as at 30 June 2006, 30 September 2006, 31 December 2006 and 31 March 2007 are available in table E1 of annex 3 of the NHSDental Statistics for England: 2006-07 report. This information is provided by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT).
	This report, published by the Information Centre for health and social care, on 23 August 2007, copies are available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607
	The numbers quoted are headcounts and do not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.
	The methodology for counting and reporting the NHS dental work force is currently under review. The review, led by analysts at the Information Centre and the Statistical Directorate of the Welsh Assembly Government, working in liaison with the Dental Services Division of the NHS Business Services Authority, aims to ensure that following the first year of the new dental contractual arrangements, the figures provide an appropriate measure of the work force.
	The work force data provided in the 2006-07 report will therefore remain the latest available until this review is complete.
	The Information Centre for health and social care is due to publish a report on dental working hours from 2006-07 and 2007-08 in August 2008. This report will contain some analysis of the full-time equivalent workforce and NHS commitment.

Dental Services: Waiting Lists

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients were waiting to be registered with an NHS dentist in each primary care trust area at the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people were waiting to be registered with an NHS dentist in Harrogate and Knaresborough in  (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and  (c) March 2008.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally. It is for local national health service organisations to make local arrangements to support patients in accessing NHS dental services.

Departmental Cost-effectiveness

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department achieved in efficiency savings in  (a) public funding and regulation,  (b) productive time (including quality),  (c) procurement,  (d) social care,  (e) corporate services and  (f) central budgets between 2005-06 and 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has reported the following efficiency savings under the Gershon Programme. The Department's target was 6,500 million.
	
		
			   million 
			  Workstream  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 (Q3) 
			 Public funding and regulation 77 270 501 
			 Productive Time 963 1,756 3,101 
			 Procurement 1,322 2,448 2,890 
			 Social Care 179 390 600 
			 Corporate Services 38 57 65 
			 Central Budgets 0 0 0 
			 Total 2,579 4,921 7,157 
		
	
	Final figures for 2007-08, the last year of the programme, have not yet been confirmed as final data for most contributing projects is reported a number of weeks after the year end.
	Final figures will be collated in September and reported in our autumn performance report to be published in December.
	The original delivery plan for our Gershon efficiency savings envisaged a contribution from reducing central budgets. Although central budgets have reduced significantly over three years, we subsequently chose not to count these against our Gershon target due to difficulties in calculating the proportion of any reduction that could be attributed solely to efficiency.

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the individuals pictured on his Department's website are employed by  (a) his Department and  (b) the NHS.

Ben Bradshaw: Due to the volume of photography on the Department's website, to establish an answer to this question would incur disproportionate costs as photographs are sourced from a number of different suppliers.

Departmental Manpower

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) UK citizens born in the UK,  (b) UK citizens born abroad and  (c) foreign nationals were employed as staff by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department and its agencies do not routinely record this information on their human resources systems, and to gather it would involve disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) staff at senior civil service level in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made.

Ben Bradshaw: Staff below the senior civil service do not receive end-of-year bonuses. The amount and number of end-of-year bonuses paid to staff in the senior civil service in the Department and its agencies in 2007-08 are provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Amount ()  Number 
			 Department 1,443,859 159 
			 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 593,223 70 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency 21,644 3 
		
	
	Pay arrangements for senior civil servants are common across all Departments and agencies, although they have flexibility on the specific values of bonuses within a common framework. Bonuses are based on the extent to which objectives are met, how they are met and how stretching they are.

Doctors: Working Hours

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors have schedules of work which comply with the requirements of the European Working Time Directive as interpreted by judgements of the European Court of Justice.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. It is the responsibility of local employers to implement the European working time directive as part of their health and safety obligations.

Doctors: Working Hours

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the results of the independent research commissioned by his Department on the effect of the operation of the European working time directive on medical training.

Ann Keen: The independent research on the impact of the European working time directive on medical training by Sheffield university will be published when it is completed in summer 2008. Once available, the report will be placed in the Library.

Doctors: Working Hours

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which junior doctor posts were discontinued in each of the last 18 months, broken down by trust.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.

Doctors: Working Hours

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the Answer of 9th May 2008,  Official Report, column 1258W, on doctors: working hours, what plans he has to propose an extension to the implementation of the European working time directive beyond 2012;
	(2)  pursuant to the Answer of 9th May 2008,  Official Report, column 1257W, on doctors: working hours, what assessment he has made of the merits of deferring full implementation of the 48-hour working week until 2012.

Ann Keen: holding answer 2 June 2008
	The national health service will assess whether 2009 implementation is achievable towards the end of this year, before advising the Department whether any services will need more time.

Epilepsy: Research

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for funding research  (a) into premature deaths from epilepsy and  (b) on NHS epilepsy treatment; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is funding a wide range of epilepsy research including aspects relevant to premature death and to treatment. The University College London Hospital's Biomedical Research Centre is active in this field and the Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre is also undertaking some relevant research.
	The NIHR has awarded a programme grant for applied research on defining priorities and communicating evidence about benefit and harm of interventions for people with epilepsy. Currently funded NIHR projects include:
	relative efficacy and cost-effectiveness of different treatment approaches currently used in the management of epilepsy in people with a learning disability; and
	pharmacogenetics of GABAergic mechanisms of benefit and harm in epilepsy.
	The Department is providing national health service support for epilepsy trials and studies through the Clinical Research Network for England. Details are given on the United Kingdom Clinical Research Network Portfolio Database which is available at:
	www.pfsearch.ukcrn.org.uk/.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
	The MRC's spend on research related to epilepsy was 4.9 million in 2006-07.

Eyesight: Testing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of  (a) the annual cost to the Exchequer of abolishing all charges for eye checks and  (b) the number of people who paid a charge for such checks wholly or in part in the last year for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: There were an estimated 15.3 million sight tests carried out in England during 2006-07. Of these 10.5 million were funded by the national health service with 4.8 million being paid for privately. For 4,471 of the private sight tests, the NHS provided partial help. If the 4.8 million privately funded sight tests were paid for by the NHS at the 2007-08 sight test fee of 19.32 the cost would be an additional 93 million a year. There would be additional costs if the number of tests increased as a result of their being funded by the NHS.

Food: Advertising

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department will conduct its  (a) interim and  (b) final review of the nature and balance of food promotions to children across all media.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department plans to publish by the end of the summer its interim findings of changes to the nature and balance of food and drink advertisement and promotion to children. No time has yet been set for the publication of the final review.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) males and  (b) females (i) successfully and (ii) unsuccessfully claimed compensation in relation to an infection contracted in an NHS hospital by (A) themselves and (B) a family member in each year since 2001, broken down by (1) age group and (2) primary care trust.

Ann Keen: The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) has supplied tables showing health care associated infections, copies of the tables have been placed in the Library.
	The NHSLA does not record data specifically for each hospital, but rather for the national health service body that runs each hospital. The tables therefore cover health care associated infection related claims made against primary care trusts, NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the minutes of the meetings of the Rapid Review Panel.

Ann Keen: The minutes of the Rapid Review Panel (RRP) are normally published six to eight weeks after the meeting. However we are currently updating the RRP website to ensure ease of access and all of the minutes of the meetings including the last meeting of 14 April 2008 have now been published on the Health Protection Agency's website and are available at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAwebPageHPAwebAutoListName/Page/1160994272839?p=1160994272839.

Junior Doctors: Accommodation

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether free accommodation is provided for foundation year one doctors who are on-call at night; whether it will be provided from August 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The provision of free accommodation for foundation year 1 doctors who are on-call at night, is dependent on the contract of employment of the junior doctor, which is for agreement locally. The Junior Doctors Terms and Conditions of Service continue to provide that if a doctor is contractually required to live in hospital accommodation no charges should be made for the accommodation provided.

Macular Degeneration: Waiting Lists

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients have had to wait longer than one week for treatment to begin after first diagnosis of macular degeneration in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Information on waiting times for first treatment after diagnosis of macular degeneration is not held centrally.

NHS: Anniversaries

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is being spent by his Department on celebrating the 60(th) anniversary of the NHS.

Ann Keen: A budget of 300,000 has been allocated to mark the 60(th) anniversary of the national health service during 2008. This will be used to fund a wide range of activities including providing resources for the local NHS to celebrate the anniversary, events for staff and stakeholders and publication of a commemorative history.

NHS: Anniversaries

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to encourage organisations which are part of the NHS to celebrate the 60(th) anniversary of the NHS.

Ann Keen: To encourage national health service organisations to celebrate the 60(th) anniversary of the NHS, the Department worked with the NHS to develop a communications resource pack for the local NHS organisations. The pack includes a range of low or no-cost ideas that focus on having a celebration with purpose alongside staff, patients and stakeholders, interesting facts and figures, NHS 60 artwork and a press pack.
	Regular updates on activity have been included in NHS staff communication channels and in face-to-face meetings with chief executives and directors of communication.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 131 of his Department's 2007 Annual Report, whether his Department placed any requirements on  (a) primary care trusts,  (b) strategic health authorities,  (c) NHS trusts and (d) NHS foundation trusts as to how they spent their capital budgets in 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: Of the 1 billion available to primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) approaching half was issued as PCT operational capital and SHA strategic capital or was released through asset sales and has no restrictions imposed on how the money is spent beyond that the funding, being capital resources, must be spent on the delivery of fixed assets.
	For national health service trusts and foundation trusts (FTs), most of the 2.6 billion capital funding was set aside for them to access under their prudential borrowing regimes. It is entirely at the discretion of NHS trusts and NHS FTs what they spend this capital on, as long as it is to deliver fixed assets.
	Across the two sectors, a total of approximately 1 billion was earmarked for expenditure on particular centrally promoted initiatives (known as programme budgets). Details are set out in Chapter 10 ('Capital Finance') of the 2007 Departmental Report. Copies of the Report are available in the Library.

NHS: Negligence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinical negligence payments were made by his Department in each year since 1997, broken down by  (a) primary care trust,  (b) the nature of the complaint and  (c) the amount paid in each case.

Ann Keen: The Department does not make clinical negligence payments. The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) handles claims made against members of its clinical negligence schemes. The NHSLA has provided information relating to clinical negligence payments it has made on behalf of primary care trusts since 1997, copies of the tables have been placed in the Library.

NHS: Negligence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) claims and  (b) settlements for clinical negligence were made in each year from 2001-02 to 2007-08 for cases arising from each hospital in Essex; and how much compensation was paid by each hospital in each year.

Ann Keen: The information requested has been supplied by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA), the first table shows clinical negligence cases in Essex.
	The NHSLA does not record data specifically for each hospital, but rather for the national health service body that runs each hospital. The second table therefore covers claims made against NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts in Essex.
	Data have also been provided for claims that have been settled by structured settlement but where there are still outstanding (O/S) payments to be made i.e. damages have been agreed to be paid over-time.
	
		
			  Numbers of clinical negligence claims received by the NHSLA for trusts in Essex since 2001-02 
			   Trust 
			  NHSLA notification year  Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust  Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust  Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust  Basiidon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust  South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust  North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust  Total 
			 2001-02 28 26 27 35 17 4 3 140 
			 2002-03 55 38 23 40 12 5 5 178 
			 2003-04 44 29 29 44 25 2  173 
			 2004-05 51 22 17 39 18 4 4 155 
			 2005-06 45 25 29 27 26  2 154 
			 2006-07 34 13 29 29 28 1 2 136 
			 2007-08 34 22 33 27 28 2 2 148 
			 Total 291 175 187 241 154 18 18 1,084 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of closed clinical negligence claims settled with damages by settlement year for trusts in Essex since 2001-02 as at 31 March 2008 
			   Trust 
			   Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust  Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust  Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust  Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
			  NHSLA notification year  Number of claims  Damages paid  Number of claims  Damages paid  Number of claims  Damages paid  Number of claims  Damages paid 
			 2001-02 7 283,650 6 178,380 8 256,009 10 442,219 
			 2002-03 20 1,004,120 11 2,972,157 21 1,586,175 12 432,417 
			 2003-04 24 894,423 27 542,813 18 766,945 15 425,655 
			 2004-05 22 770,165 14 515,104 5 111,280 20 1,866,654 
			 2005-06 25 2,703,123 15 312,300 15 914,325 16 367,076 
			 2006-07 21 608,179 13 1,893,750 12 6,365,269 19 3,169,314 
			 2007-08 6 223,750 11 210,307 8 139,500 5 167,984 
			 Total 125 6,487,411 97 6,624,811 87 10,139,503 97 6,871,320 
		
	
	
		
			   Trust 
			   Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust  South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust  North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust  Total 
			  NHSLA notification year  Number of claims  Damages paid  Number of claims  Damages paid  Number of claims  Damages paid  Number of claims  Damages paid 
			 2001-02 7 897,123 2 92,000 2 50,573 42 2,199,954 
			 2002-03 12 710,500 6 262,797   82 6,968,167 
			 2003-04 16 816,881 2 14,500 1 65,000 103 3,526,217 
			 2004-05 14 186,563 2 1,889,783 1 5,000 78 5,344,549 
			 2005-06 15 3,412,955 2 99,000 2 285,000 90 8,093,778 
			 2006-07 10 1,306,718 1 26,382 3 175,000 79 13,544,612 
			 2007-08 9 227,000 2 118,449 1 43,500 42 1,130,490 
			 Total 83 7,557,739 17 2,502,911 10 624,073 516 40,807,768 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of structured settlement claims settled with damages by settlement year for trusts in Essex since 2001-02 as at 31 March 2008 
			   Trust 
			   Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust  Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 
			  NHSLA notification year  Number of claims  Damages paid  0/S damages  Total Damages  Number of claims  Damages paid  0/S damages  Total damages 
			 2002-03 1 955,956 1,044,044 2,000,000 1 853,488 1,696,512 2,550,000 
			 2004-05 1 1,263,078 2,336,922 3,600,000 
			 2005-06 
			 2007 08 
			 Total 1 955,956 1,044,044 2,000,000 2 2116,566| 4,033,434 6,150,000 
		
	
	
		
			   Trust 
			   Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 
			  NHSLA notification year  Number of claims  Damages paid  O/S damages  Total damages  Number of claims  Damages paid  0/S damages  Total damages 
			 2002-03 
			 2004-05 1 409,677 240,323 650,000 1 1,270,186 2,198,464 3,468,650 
			 2005-06 2 2,681,111 4,518,889 7,200,000 
			 2007-08 1 1,369,799 2,601,201 3,971,000 
			 Total 4 4,460,587 7,360,413 11,821,000 1 1,270,186 2,198,464 3,468,650 
		
	
	
		
			   Total 
			  NHSLA notification year  Number of claims  Damages paid  0/S damages  Total damages 
			 2002-03 2 1,809,444 2,740,556 4,550,000 
			 2004-05 3 2,942,941 4,775,709 7,718,650 
			 2005-06 2 2,681,111 4,518,889 7,200,000 
			 2007-08 1 1,369,799 2,601,201 3,971,000 
			 Total 8 8,803,295 14,636,355 23,439,650

NHS: Negligence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid out by the National Health Service Litigation Authority in compensation in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following table. The data was provided by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA).
	
		
			  000 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 CNST 0 229 4,783 22,521 (1)201,869 175,277 293,384 329,412 384,390 424,351 
			 ELS 29,075 55,926 264,584 (2)842,093 343,242 269,345 128,071 169,414 168,203 153,246 
			 Ex-RHA 11,498 13,921 7,989 7,372 3,832 1,562 1,059 4,068 7,716 1,794 
			 Total 40,573 70,076 277,356 871,986 548,943 446,184 422,514 502,894 560,309 579,391 
			
			 LTPS n/a n/a 31 551 3,112 14,480 7,395 21,280 26,692 29,697 
			 PES n/a n/a 359 429 1,931 6,866 2,735 3,839 4,586 4,186 
			 Total 0 0 390 980 5,043 21,346 10,130 25,119 31,278 33,883 
			
			 Grand total 40,573 70,076 277,746 (2)872,966 (1)553,986 467,530 432,644 528,013 591,587 613,274 
			 (1,2) 612,000 in 2000-01 and 119,000 in 2001-02 reflects the amounts reimbursed to trusts as part of the 'call-in' when the NHSLA took on responsibility for handling all claims on behalf of trusts and not just those above the agreed excess level.  Notes: 1. CNST relates to payments under the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts. 2. ELS relates to payments under the Existing Liabilities Scheme. 3. Ex-RHA relates to payments under the Ex-Regional Health Authorities Scheme. 4. LTPS relates to payments under the Liabilities to Third Parties Scheme. 5. PES relates to payments under the Property Expenses Scheme.

NHS: Negligence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been set aside during the next 12 months by the National Health Service Litigation Authority in relation to  (a) compensation payments to and  (b) possible legal costs incurred by patients or patients' families and next of kin; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The NHS Litigation has estimated that for the next 12 months, clinical compensation payments will total 455 million, defence costs will be 63 million and claimant costs will be 100 million.

NHS: Negligence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what legislative provisions the National Health Service Litigation Authority is regulated; what changes have been made since enactment; what further changes are planned; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) was established by the National Health Service Litigation Authority (Establishment and Constitution) Order 1995, S.I. 1995/2800. The order was made under section 11(1), (2) and (4) of, and paragraph 9(7)(b) of schedule 5 to, the National Health Service Act 1977. Following the consolidation of the enabling authority, this order now has effect as if made under the National Health Service Act 2006, section 28 and the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, section 22, by virtue of the National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006, section 4, schedule 2, part 1, paragraph 1. S.I. 1995/2800 has been amended by:
	the National Health Service Litigation Authority (Establishment and Constitution) Amendment Order 2002, S.I. 2002/2621; and
	the National Health Service Litigation Authority (Establishment and Constitution) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2005, S.I. 2005/2621.
	The National Health Service Litigation Authority Regulations 1995, S.I. 1995/2801, make detailed provision about the operation of the NHSLA. The Regulations were made under sections 16 and 126(4) of, and paragraphs 12 and 16 of schedule 5 to, the National Health Service Act 1977. Following the consolidation of the enabling authority, these regulations now have effect as if made under the National Health Service Act 2006, section 29, schedule 6, paragraphs 5, 13 and the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, section 25, schedule 5, paragraphs 5, 13, again by virtue of the National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006, section 4, schedule 2, part 1, paragraph 1. S.I. 1995/2801 has been amended by:
	National Health Service (Functions of Health Authorities and Administration Arrangements) Regulations 1996, S.I. 1996/708;
	National Health Service Litigation Authority (Amendment) Regulations 1996, S.I. 1996/968;
	Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Amendment Regulations 1997, S.I. 1997/2991;
	National Health Service (Pilot Schemes: Miscellaneous Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 1998, S.I. 1998/646;
	Special Health Authorities (Amendment) Regulations 1998, S.I. 1998/1576;
	Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Amendment Regulations 2000, S.I. 2000/696;
	National Health Service Litigation Authority (Amendment) Regulations 2000, S.I. 2000/2433;
	National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (Supplementary, Consequential etc. Provisions) Regulations 2002, S.I. 2002/2469;
	National Health Service (Local Pharmaceutical Services etc.) Regulations 2002, S.I. 2002/2861;
	Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (Supplementary and Consequential Provision) (NHS Foundation Trusts) Order 2004, S.I. 2004/696;
	National Health Service (Local Pharmaceutical Services etc.) Regulations 2006, S.I. 2006/552; and
	Enterprise Act 2002 (Disqualification from Office: General) Order 2006, S.I. 2006/1722.
	The Special Health Authorities (SHA) Abolition Order 2005, S.I. 2005/502, dealt with the abolition of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority (FHSAA) and transferred its responsibilities to the NHSLA. This order was made under the powers conferred by sections 11(1), (2) and (4) and 126(3) and (4) of the National Health Service Act 1977. Following the consolidation of the enabling authority, this order now has effect as if made under the National Health Service Act 2006, section 28 and the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, section 22 by virtue of the National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006, s 4, schedule 2, part 1, paragraph 1.
	The National Health Service (Complaints) Regulations 2004, S.I. 2004/1786, make provision for complaints in the NHS for specific NHS bodies, which include SHAs to which section 2 of the Health Services Commissioners Act 1993 applies. These regulations were amended by the National Health Service (Complaints) Amendment Regulations 2006, S.I. 2006/2084
	Section 2(5)(b) of the Health Service Commissioner Act 1993 provides for an Order in Council to be made to include other SHAs than those listed at section 2(1). The NHSLA was included through the following order:
	The Health Service Commissioner for England SHAs Order 2005, S.I. 2005/251.
	The Secretary of State is also able to direct the NHSLA by virtue of sections 16D, 17, 18(3) and 126(4) of the National Health Service Act 1977, section 7(3) and (4) of the Health and Medicines Act 1988. The enabling authority under the 1977 Act has subsequently been consolidated under section 8 of the NHS Act 2006.
	Directions that regulate the NHSLA are:
	The National Health Service Litigation Authority (Functions) Directions 1995;
	The National Health Service (Clinical Negligence Scheme) Directions 1997;
	The National Health Service (Existing Liabilities Scheme) Directions 1997;
	Directions to the National Health Service Litigation Authority Arrangements for Reimbursement of Health Authorities For Payments Under Structured Settlements in Respect of Clinical Negligence Claims 1999;
	The National Health Service Litigation Authority Directions 2005;
	Directions as to the Functions of the National Health Service Litigation Authority (GDS Contracts Disputes) 2005;
	Directions as to the Functions of the National Health Service Litigation Authority (PDS Agreements Disputes) 2005;
	Directions as to the Functions of the National Health Service Litigation Authority (GDS Contract and PDS Agreements Transitional Disputes) 2005;
	National Health Service Litigation Authority (Functions) (England) Directions 2005;
	National Health Service Litigation Authority (Functions) (England and Wales) Directions 2005;
	The National Health Service Litigation Authority and National Health Service Trusts (Supply Of Services and Facilities To The FHSAA) Directions 2005;
	National Health Service Litigation Authority and Primary Care Trust Directions 2005; and
	The National Health Service Litigation Authority (Functions) (England) (Amendment) Directions 2007.
	In future, the Secretary of State intends to issue Directions to the NHSLA with regard to the resolution of disputes in primary medical services over the general practitioner systems of choice primary care trust-practice agreement.

NHS: Nutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what priority is accorded to training in nutritional care within the Knowledge and Skills Framework of Agenda for Change.

Ann Keen: The NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework sets out the knowledge and skills that NHS staff might need to apply in their posts. It is used to review how staff are applying the knowledge and skills required in their work and identify any training and development needs for individual staff. Nutritional care is one such training need that is covered in both the core and specific dimensions of the Knowledge and Skills Framework, but the priority given to this would be determined at a local level.

NHS: Personal Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what items of information are captured by the National Reporting and Learning System;
	(2)  how many nutrition-related adverse incidents were recorded in the National Reporting and Learning System in each month since it was established;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library a copy of each report on nutrition produced by the National Patient Safety Agency in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: The National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) contains information on incidents relating to patient safety for all national health service organisations in England and Wales. For each incident, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) collect details on where, when, and what occurred, including a textual description of the event, as well as basic demographic information on the patient(s) involved (e.g. gender, age and ethnic group) and any resultant harm to the patient. Optional fields are also provided to the reporter for the provision of further details (e.g. additional analysis of the cause of an event).
	The following table shows a list of nutrition-related adverse incidents recorded on the NRLS in each month since it was established.
	
		
			   2005  2006  2007 
			 January 773 1,731 2,264 
			 February 848 1,664 2,087 
			 March 955 1,868 2,270 
			 April 1,101 1,803 2,362 
			 May 1,342 2,007 2,524 
			 June 1,357 2,084 2,563 
			 July 1,480 2,103 2,697 
			 August 1,382 2,072 2,465 
			 September 1,501 2,053 2,464 
			 October 1,561 2,171 2,717 
			 November 1,653 2,115 2,493 
			 December 1,520 1,866 2,232 
		
	
	The NPSA has published two nutrition themed reports, Protected Mealtime Review: Findings and Recommendations Report and 'National Screening: Structured Investigation Project' neither of which are based on the aforementioned NRLS data. Copies of both reports have been placed in the Library.

NHS: Transport

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ask the Healthcare Commission to include in its annual health check the monitoring of performance of private patient transport services contracted for the use of NHS patients.

Ben Bradshaw: The Healthcare Commission's annual health check is an independent assessment of national health service organisations performance. The Healthcare Commission has recently consulted on the content of their annual health check and is due to publish the 2008-09 assessment process soon. It is not for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to determine the content of the assessment, other than to ensure it covers the national priorities that have been set out by Government.

Northwick Park Hospital: Maternal Mortality

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Healthcare Commission's report into maternal deaths at Northwick Park hospital; and what recommendations have been made to trusts on  (a) optimum models of management and organisation of maternity services and  (b) the use of agency personnel;
	(2)  whether he has assessed the effect on the performance of NHS trusts of the Healthcare Commission's recommendations on the monitoring of quality and performance of maternity services by NHS trusts following its investigation into maternal deaths at Northwick Park hospital.

Ann Keen: The Healthcare Commission (HCC) report into the maternal deaths at Northwick Park hospital was published on the 23 August 2006. We welcomed the report and gave it careful consideration.
	Our framework document, 'Maternity Matters: Choice, access and continuity of care in a safe service', published in April 2007, took account of the HCC report along with other evidence. It is the delivery mechanism for the Government's maternity commitments and is the strategy for modernised maternity services, placing safety, quality and improving standards at the very heart of its vision. Copies of the framework document have been placed in the Library and can also be found on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_073312
	The use of agency personnel is a matter best determined by local trusts in light of local circumstances.
	The HCC undertook a review of maternity services during 2007 covering all trusts providing maternity services, and published its findings in January 2008. The review assessed performance against a range if issues and indicators, covering clinical focus, women-centred care and efficiency and capability. The data enable trusts and commissioners to compare and benchmark their outcomes and performance against others. A national report containing detailed analysis of the review is expected to be published by the Healthcare Commission this summer.

Nurses: Schools

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurses are employed in each primary care trust region; and how much they cost in the last year for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The following table shows the number of fully-qualified school nurses in England broken down by strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care trust (PCT).
	The cost of employing school nurses is not identified separately. The employment costs of school nurses are included within the employment costs for all qualified nurses.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services: Qualified nurses working in the area of school nursing in England by SHA area and by organisation as at 30 September 2007 
			  Headcount 
			School nursing nurses  of which  qualified school nurses( 1) 
			  England  3,162 1,227 
			 
			  North East Strategic Health Authority  166 57 
			 City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust RLN 18 18 
			 County Durham PCT 5ND 36 29 
			 Darlington PCT 5J9 9 2 
			 Gateshead PCT 5KF 20 3 
			 Hartlepool PCT 5D9 7 (2) 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 5KM 24 (2) 
			 Newcastle PCT 5D7 1 1 
			 North Tees PCT 5E1 16 (2) 
			 Northumberland Care Trust TAG 4 4 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 5QR 15 (2) 
			 South Tyneside PCT 5KG 16 (2) 
			 
			  North West Strategic Health Authority  673 250 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 5HG 35 9 
			 Blackburn with Darwen PCT 5CC 24 (2) 
			 Blackpool PCT 5HP 19 8 
			 Bolton PCT 5HQ 40 39 
			 Bury PCT 5JX 22 22 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 5NP 45 6 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 5NG 35 2 
			 Cumbria PCT 5NE 31 15 
			 East Lancashire PCT 5NH 48 5 
			 Halton and St Helens PCT 5NM 43 14 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 5NQ 18 14 
			 Knowsley PCT 5J4 27 1 
			 Liverpool PCT 5NL 17 (2) 
			 Manchester PCT 5NT 62 40 
			 North Lancashire PCT 5NF 22 9 
			 Oldham PCT 5J5 34 12 
			 Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital NHS Trust RBS 15 (2) 
			 Sefton PCT 5NJ 31 (2) 
			 Stockport PCT 5F7 17 3 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 5LH 26 26 
			 The Wirral Hospital NHS Trust RBL 32 12 
			 Warrington PCT 5J2 16 13 
			 West Cheshire PCT 5NN 14 (2) 
			 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority  389 181 
			 Barnsley PCT 5JE 18 18 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 5NY 28 23 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust RWY 2 (2) 
			 Calderdale PCT 5J6 21 13 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 5NW 6 3 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 5NX 18 7 
			 Kirklees PCT 5N2 36 36 
			 Leeds PCT 5N1 74 49 
			 North East Lincolnshire PCT 5AN 17 (2) 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 5EF 15 2 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 5NV 28 7 
			 Rotherham PCT 5H8 37 7 
			 Sheffield PCT 5N4 47 16 
			 Wakefield District PCT 5N3 29 (2) 
			 York Hospitals NHS Trust RCB 13 (2) 
			 
			  East Midlands Strategic Health Authority  267 67 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 5ET 3 (2) 
			 Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust RFS 34 1 
			 Derby City PCT 5N7 34 23 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 5N6 18 1 
			 Leicester City Teaching PCT 5PC 20 3 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 5PA 56 1 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 5N9 39 7 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 5PD 37 30 
			 Nottingham City PCT 5EM 6 (2) 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 5N8 12 1 
			 The United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust RWD 8 (2) 
			 
			  West Midlands Strategic Health Authority  376 187 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 5PG 18 17 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS trust RYG 1 (2) 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 5MD 18 (2) 
			 Dudley PCT 5PE 17 1 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 5MX 24 (2) 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 5PH 19 13 
			 Sandwell PCT 5PF 23 1 
			 Shropshire County PCT 5M2 14 2 
			 Solihull Care Trust TAM 17 (2) 
			 South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Trust RRE 11 1 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 5PK 54 53 
			 Stoke on Trent Teaching PCT 5PJ 31 29 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 5MK 12 (2) 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 5M3 21 4 
			 Warwickshire PCT 5PM 39 22 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 5MV 25 25 
			 Worcestershire PCT 5PL 32 19 
			 
			  East of England Strategic Health Authority  241 77 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 5P2 35 5 
			 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust RT1 2 1 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 5PP 12 6 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 5P3 29 24 
			 James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust RGP 6 1 
			 Luton PCT 5GC 16 5 
			 Mid Essex PCT 5PX 20 14 
			 Norfolk PCT 5PQ 2 (2) 
			 North East Essex PCT 5PW 23 8 
			 Peterborough PCT 5PN 12 1 
			 South East Essex PCT 5P1 25 2 
			 South West Essex Teaching PCT 5PY 24 (2) 
			 West Essex PCT 5PV 2 1 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 5P4 33 9 
			 
			 London Strategic Health Authority  432 168 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 5C2 12 2 
			 Barnet PCT 5A9 5 1 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 5K5 25 20 
			 Bromley PCT 5A7 3 (2) 
			 Camden PCT 5K7 7 1 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust RQM 2 2 
			 City and Hackney PCT 5C3 17 10 
			 Croydon PCT 5K9 16 - 
			 Ealing PCT 5HX 16 2 
			 Enfield PCT 5C1 25 (2) 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 5A8 25 24 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 5H1 7 7 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 5C9 13 2 
			 Havering PCT 5A4 15 15 
			 Hillingdon PCT 5AT 21 6 
			 Hounslow PCT 5HY 11 (2) 
			 Islington PCT 5K8 22 4 
			 Kingston PCT 5A5 8 2 
			 Lambeth PCT 5LD 19 19 
			 Lewisham PCT 5LF 19 12 
			 Newham PCT 5C5 8 6 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust RV8 3 (2) 
			 Redbridge PCT 5NA 21 14 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 5M6 21 3 
			 Southwark PCT 5LE 7 7 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 5M7 28 . 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 5C4 11 2 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 5NC 11 (2) 
			 Wandsworth PCT 5LG 21 6 
			 Westminster PCT 5LC 13 1 
			 
			  South East Coast Strategic Health Authority  201 89 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 5P7 20 16 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent Teaching PCT 5QA 15 14 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 5P8 19 19 
			 Medway NHS Trust RPA 13 (2) 
			 South Downs Health NHS Trust RDR 26 (2) 
			 Surrey PCT 5P5 43 3 
			 West Kent PCT 5P9 23 4 
			 West Sussex Teaching PCT 5P6 42 33 
			 
			  South Central Strategic Health Authority  166 67 
			 Berkshire East Teaching PCT 5QG 22 14 
			 Berkshire West PCT 5QF 33 17 
			 Hampshire PCT 5QC 48 6 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare PCT 5QT 9 (2) 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 5CQ 6 6 
			 North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust RN5 15 (2) 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 5QE 22 22 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 5FE 8 2 
			 Southampton City PCT 5L1 3 (2) 
			 
			  South West Strategic Health Authority  251 84 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 5FL 2 (2) 
			 Bournemouth and Poole PCT 5QN 11 (2) 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 5QP 19 19 
			 Devon PCT 5QQ 32 28 
			 Dorset PCT 5QM 12 8 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 5QH 36 1 
			 North Bristol NHS Trust RVJ 17 (2) 
			 North Somerset PCT 5M8 9 1 
			 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust RK9 4 (2) 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 5F1 17 (2) 
			 Somerset PCT 5QL 18 9 
			 Swindon PCT 5K3 17 4 
			 Torbay Care Trust TAL 9 6 
			 United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust RA7 18 6 
			 Wiltshire PCT 5QK 30 2 
			 (1) Qualified school nurses hold the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Specialist Practice Qualification with an outcome in school nursingwhich is a recordable qualifications on the NMC register. (2) = zero  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census

Patients

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have  (a) received appointment notifications in error and  (b) kept appointments which were not recorded in a hospital patient administration system in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Where appointments have been made through the choose and book system, we are aware of only one system error that has affected patients. Out of 8.5 million bookings made, the error is known to have affected 272 bookings , between 11 April 2008 and 24 April 2008 through the transposition of unique reference numbers.
	The affected cases were quickly identified and action was taken to minimise any potential impact for patients. All hospitals and patients were contacted where the possibility had arisen of notification of incorrect appointments resulting from the error. In many cases it was established that no adverse effect on patients had occurred and at no time was patient confidentiality compromised.
	The supplier made corrections to the system and no recurrence of the problem has been experienced since 24 April 2008. While no further recurrence is expected in future, an automated process has been put in place to identify the problem immediately if that should happen.

Pregnancy Book

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Answer of 25 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 2045-7W, on the Pregnancy Book, what criteria must be satisfied before the Pregnancy Book is revised.

Ann Keen: The Department regularly considers updating its publications and the only criterion for updating a publication such as the Pregnancy Book is that there is sufficient need to update the material within it to make publishing an update a sensible use of resources.

Tattooing: Plastic Surgery

Patricia Hewitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that companies offering tattoos and/or tattoo removal are regulated and inspected by  (a) the Healthcare Commission and  (b) the new Care Quality Commission.

Ben Bradshaw: Regulation of tattooing and skin piercing is carried out by local authorities.
	The Healthcare Commission does not regulate tattooing businesses. It currently regulates tattoo removals which are carried out surgically or by using class 3B or 4 laser equipment.
	The Department is currently consulting on the scope of activities to be included in the Care Quality Commission's registration scheme for health and social care, and this consultation will run until 17 June.

Tattooing: Plastic Surgery

Patricia Hewitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints his Department has received from patients who had been treated in tattoo and tattoo removal facilities in the UK in  (a) the last 12 months and  (b) the last five years.

Ann Keen: The Department has received a number of representations about tattoos, tattoo removals and related issues. However, it is more likely that a person who was not satisfied with their tattoo or tattoo removal procedure would complain in the first instance to the provider of that service, and then to local agencies such as the local authority, or the Healthcare Commission in the case of tattoo removals involving surgery or laser equipment, rather than directing their complaint to the Department.

Tattooing: Plastic Surgery

Patricia Hewitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to ensure that clinics offering tattoos and/or tattoo removals meet high standards of clinical quality and consumer protection.

Ben Bradshaw: Regulation of tattooing and skin piercing is carried out by local authorities (LAs). The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, as amended by the Local Government Act 2003, gives LAs powers to require tattooing and cosmetic piercing businesses in their area to register and observe byelaws on hygiene and cleanliness. It is an offence for such a business to trade without being registered with the LA or to breach local byelaws.
	LAs in London generally use the London Local Authorities Act 1991 (private legislation) which provides for a licensing scheme for businesses providing special treatments such as tattooing and cosmetic piercing. It is an offence to trade without being licensed or to breach licence conditions.
	LAs also have general enforcement powers under health and safety at work legislation. This allows LAs to use improvement and prohibition notices, and ultimately prosecute tattooing and piercing businesses, if appropriate. Taken together with Healthcare Commission regulation of surgical tattoo removals and, currently, tattoo removals involving lasers, mean that there is protection for people who choose to use these services.

Tobacco: Young People

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to discourage adults from purchasing tobacco on behalf of children as part of the Government's commitment to reduce smoking amongst young people;
	(2)  if he will consider the merits of introducing a criminal offence of proxy purchasing of tobacco by adults on behalf of minors.

Dawn Primarolo: This issue was considered by Parliament with respect to the tobacco provisions of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. During the passage of the legislation through Parliament an amendment was tabled in the House of Lords that was subsequently withdrawn after the Government indicated that they were not satisfied that there was sufficient evidence that proxy purchasing of tobacco problem was a widespread problem or that any criminal offence created could be effectively enforced. However, the Government have undertaken to review the position in a year.
	The Department has raised the issue in its consultation paper Consultation on the future of tobacco control, copies of this publication have been placed in the Library.